Ten years ago, it was revealed that Hillary Clinton used a private email server as secretary of state, leading to controversy during her 2016 presidential campaign. Now, Trump administration officials were found to be using a commercial, encrypted app called Signal to discuss sensitive military operations, raising questions of hypocrisy given their past criticisms of Clinton. The conversations detailed precise information about weapons packages and targets, with emoji-filled conversations celebrating successful strikes. This use of Signal sidestepped traditional government systems, raising concerns about the handling of classified information and federal recordkeeping laws.
The revelations come amid increased attention to handling sensitive material by federal agencies, reminding employees of proper protocols. The chat published by The Atlantic included top officials like JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Mike Waltz, discussing military strikes in Yemen. Critics have noted the potential unconstitutionality of these strikes being authorized without Congressional input.
The use of Signal for these discussions bypassed commonly used secure systems like JWICS and SIPRNet, indicating a lack of adherence to established protocols for handling classified information. Officials usually meet in a SCIF to discuss such matters, where devices are not allowed. The Intelligence Committee plans to investigate this breach of protocol, with upcoming hearings featuring officials involved in the Signal chat. Ultimately, the use of Signal for these discussions raises concerns about the security and legality of sharing sensitive national security information outside of established secure channels.
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