CIA Director John Ratcliffe grilled on Signal group chat leak that discussed strike on Houthis
CIA Director John Ratcliffe found himself in a tense exchange with Democratic Senator Michael Bennet during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday. The clash centered around the Trump administration’s leaked Signal chat, in which more than a dozen top national security officials, including Ratcliffe, inadvertently included Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg.
The news of the Signal chat, first reported by Goldberg, sent shockwaves through Washington, D.C. Ratcliffe and other officials were grilled by lawmakers over their use of the encrypted messaging app to discuss classified security information. Bennet pressed Ratcliffe on whether he believed there was nothing wrong with the chat and whether he shared DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s view that it did not contain targeting information.
Ratcliffe insisted that he did not use the app to share classified or targeting information. When Bennet suggested that National Security Advisor Mike Waltz had invited Goldberg to join the chat, Ratcliffe said he was not aware of how Goldberg was added to the group.
The exchange grew heated when Bennet accused Ratcliffe of downplaying the seriousness of the situation. Ratcliffe pushed back, saying he never claimed the chat was appropriate or normal. Bennet criticized Ratcliffe for what he saw as sloppiness and incompetence, calling on him to do better.
Other Democrats, including Senator Ron Wyden, called for Waltz and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign over the leaked chat. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to downplay the incident, stating that the attacks on the Houthis discussed in the chat had been successful.
The hearing highlighted the growing concerns over the use of encrypted messaging apps by government officials to discuss sensitive information. It also underscored the need for greater transparency and accountability in the handling of classified information.
As the fallout from the leaked Signal chat continues, it is clear that the Trump administration’s national security team is facing scrutiny and calls for accountability. The clash between Ratcliffe and Bennet serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks associated with modern communication technologies in the realm of national security.
