## Signal Scandal Deepens: Investigation into Defense Secretary Hegseth’s Chats Expands
The scrutiny surrounding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of Signal group chats is intensifying, with the Pentagon Inspector General expanding its investigation, according to a new report. The probe, initially focused on the “Houthi PC Small Group” incident, is now encompassing a second chat group and examining the potential mishandling of classified information.
The Wall Street Journal reports that investigators are looking into how classified material was transferred from a secure government computer to Hegseth’s personal devices. This transfer is reportedly suspicious because the process of moving information between classified and unclassified systems is designed to be deliberately difficult and time-consuming, making a rapid copy and paste virtually impossible.
The initial controversy arose when *The Atlantic* magazine’s editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to the “Houthi PC Small Group,” a chat discussing an upcoming military strike in Yemen. The *New York Times* later revealed the existence of a second Signal chat, “Defense | Group Huddle,” which included Hegseth’s wife, brother, personal lawyer, and several personal friends. The *Times* reported that Hegseth sent the same Yemeni strike information to this group.
The central question revolves around who transferred classified information onto a personal device “moments” after its initial transmission. This raises serious concerns about potential security breaches and the unauthorized dissemination of sensitive intelligence.
While Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, has downplayed the initial “Houthi PC Small Group” incident, he has remained largely silent about the “Defense | Group Huddle” chat. President Trump has publicly supported Hegseth, but the fallout has already claimed one casualty: National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, who mistakenly added *The Atlantic* editor to the initial group, was reportedly removed from his position and reassigned as Trump’s Ambassador to the United Nations. The investigation continues to unravel the complexities of the Signal chats, leaving Hegseth’s future uncertain as the Pentagon Inspector General digs deeper.
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