The US Secretary of Defense is accused of leaking classified information about strikes in Yemen via the "Signal" app.
The American newspaper "The New York Times" revealed that the Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper, shared classified information regarding military operations against the Houthis in Yemen through a private chat group on the "Signal" app before his confirmation in office.
The newspaper cited four informed sources stating that Esper shared detailed tables of planned airstrikes against the Houthis in a group that included his wife, brother, lawyer, as well as around ten individuals from his personal and professional circle.
This incident occurred shortly after a similar leak of classified information through another chat group previously exposed by "The Atlantic" website.
The newspaper noted that Esper's wife, a former journalist at "Fox News," does not work in the Department of Defense, while his brother and lawyer hold positions within it, without clarifying the reason for their need to access such sensitive information.
Security warnings and mutual accusations
According to the newspaper, officials at the Department of Defense (Pentagon) warned Esper against using the "Signal" app to discuss military operations, as it is less secure than official channels.
However, the Pentagon has not officially commented on these allegations, while a senior official denied any "breach of national security," despite not confirming or denying the details of the leaks.
On the other hand, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Barnell criticized "The New York Times," describing it as a "media outlet hostile to President Trump," affirming that "no classified information was published through the app" without providing further details.
Political reactions and calls for investigation
Criticism towards Esper escalated, with Democratic Senator Jack Reed calling for these claims to be included in the Pentagon Inspector General's investigation.
Reed stated in a press release: "If this incident is confirmed, it will be new evidence of Secretary Esper's disregard for laws and security protocols that others adhere to."
This comes days after three senior Pentagon officials were suspended from work due to "unspecified leaks," including Darren Selnick (Deputy Director of Esper's office), and advisors Dan Caldwell and Colin Carroll, who accused the department of "tarnishing their reputation with baseless allegations."
Background of the crisis and Esper's future
President Trump previously defended Esper after the first "Signal Gate" scandal, while National Security Advisor Mike Waltz announced his responsibility for creating the group that witnessed the leaks.
In a scathing comment, John Ullyot (former spokesperson for Esper) described last month as a "month of utter chaos in the Pentagon," expecting Esper not to remain in his position for long due to Trump's policy of "holding officials accountable."
Developments are ongoing regarding this issue amidst official secrecy and increasing political pressure to demand more transparency and investigation.
