(NewsNation) — On Tuesday, the Senate Intelligence Committee convened an open hearing addressing “worldwide threats,” which quickly shifted focus to a significant revelation from Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of the Atlantic.
Notable witnesses included National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and FBI Director Kash Patel. Their testimonies primarily revolved around claims made by Goldberg, who was included in a group chat with former Trump administration officials.
Goldberg reported that the chat on the encrypted messaging platform Signal included discussions about plans for an attack on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Both Gabbard and Ratcliffe were said to be part of the message thread, although only Ratcliffe acknowledged his involvement during the hearing on Tuesday.
John Ratcliffe, Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel address Signal group chat leak
Gabbard declined to confirm her involvement in the leaked message exchange, informing Warner that she would refrain from commenting as the matter “is currently under review by the National Security Council.”
She later specified that there was “no classified” information in the chat, aligning with earlier remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
During the hearing, Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine, challenged Gabbard’s claim that nothing sensitive was exchanged in the chat. He urged Gabbard to “release the whole text stream so the public could view what transpired in this discussion.”
Ratcliffe informed the senators that the CIA allows the use of Signal for official communications.
“One of the first things that happened when I became CIA director was that Signal was loaded onto my computer, as it is for most CIA officers,” Ratcliffe stated.
He further affirmed that, to his knowledge, using the app is entirely “permissible and lawful.”
When asked by Senator Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., if there were discussions regarding weapons packages or timing in the group chat, as reported by Goldberg, Ratcliffe responded, “Not that I’m aware of.” Gabbard echoed his answer, stating, “Same response, and I defer to the Department of Defense.”
Patel revealed that he received a briefing on the situation “late last night” but did not yet have an official update from the FBI. Warner requested more information by day’s end.
Signal chat leak shows ‘sloppy, careless’ intelligence approach: Sen. Mark Warner
In his opening statement, Committee Chairman Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., highlighted the leak, characterizing it as indicative of the administration’s “sloppy, careless, and incompetent” handling of classified information.
“Were these government devices? Were they personal devices? Have devices been checked for malware?” Warner inquired.
“There’s ample declassified information demonstrating that our adversaries, China and Russia, are attempting to infiltrate encrypted systems like Signal.”
He added that if any intelligence or military officer were involved in a similar chat, “they would be terminated.”
Sen. Michael Bennett, D-Col., admonished Ratcliffe for his testimony, exclaiming, “You need to do better. You need to do better.”
Multiple protesters removed from Senate hearing
As Patel was about to respond to his first question from committee chairman Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., a protester interrupted the proceedings.
“The biggest threat to public security is Israel, and the entire world is aware of it,” the individual shouted before being removed from the session. “Stop funding Israel, stop funding Israel, stop funding Israel.”
When Cotton prompted anyone else with concerns to speak up, another protester began to yell and was subsequently escorted out.
