Allegations that US Secretary of Defense Hegseth used 'insecure internet'

Two officials with knowledge of the internet connection in Hegseth's office spoke to the Associated Press (AP) on the condition of anonymity.

The officials alleged that Hegseth initially used the service in his office in an area where he could connect to the Pentagon's wireless internet, but later requested that an internet network be installed for his own computer.

Stating that this internet connection "bypassed" the security filters and protocols of the US Department of Defense (Pentagon), the officials claimed that Hegseth connected to this insecure internet network to use Signal.

On the other hand, officials with knowledge of the security of the US military's internet network noted that the internet network in question did not appear as an IP address affiliated with the Pentagon and that the user was "masked."

The officials also pointed out that the internet network could be vulnerable to being "hacked" and monitored.

JOURNALIST ADDED TO GROUP WHERE WAR PLANS WERE DISCUSSED

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic magazine, had been included in a messaging thread where war plans for Yemen were being discussed.

In an article he wrote titled "(US President Donald) Trump administration accidentally sent me war plans by message," Goldberg explained that he was first added to a Signal group containing national security officials, and that later, a message Hegseth sent to the group contained details regarding attacks to be carried out in Yemen.

Meanwhile, Hegseth argued that Goldberg did not see any war or attack plans, and criticized the media for spreading hoaxes.

Acting Pentagon Inspector General Steven Stebbins had launched an investigation into allegations that Secretary Hegseth shared sensitive military information regarding attacks on the Houthis in Yemen via the Signal messaging app.

The New York Times reported on April 20 that Hegseth also shared details about the Yemen operation in another Signal group that included his wife Jennifer Hegseth, his brother Phil Hegseth, who works at the Pentagon, and his lawyer Tim Parlatore.

The Washington Post had alleged that Hegseth installed Signal on his desktop computer in his Pentagon office and also downloaded it to his personal mobile phone.

Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell had stated that his office could confirm that Hegseth "never used Signal on a government computer."

News Source: AA