Pentagon announces investigation into leaks, which could include polygraph tests
The Pentagon has announced that it will be conducting an investigation into what it claims are leaks of national security information. This investigation may involve polygraph tests for employees within the Defense Department. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, issued a memo on Friday stating that the Pentagon’s intelligence and law enforcement branches are looking into “recent unauthorized disclosures” of sensitive national security information.
Kasper emphasized the importance of conducting a thorough investigation into these unauthorized leaks, particularly those involving sensitive communications with high-ranking officials within the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). He mentioned that if the investigation uncovers the individuals responsible for these leaks, the information will be referred to the appropriate criminal authorities for prosecution.
President Donald Trump recently dismissed a report from The New York Times suggesting that his senior adviser, Elon Musk, would be briefed on potential strategies for dealing with a conflict with China. Musk responded by condemning the leaks of false information to the media and expressing his support for prosecuting those responsible.
The Pentagon’s decision to implement polygraph tests aligns with a broader effort across federal agencies to address leaks of classified information. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has also announced plans to increase lie-detector tests to identify individuals leaking information about immigration enforcement operations to the media.
In a separate development, the Justice Department has launched an investigation into leaks of classified information about a Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua. The Trump administration has been targeting members of this gang for removal from the United States.
While polygraph tests are not admissible in court proceedings due to concerns about their reliability, they are commonly used by federal law enforcement agencies and for national security clearances. The Supreme Court has previously ruled that polygraph tests are inadmissible in military justice proceedings.
It is essential to address leaks of national security information to protect sensitive government operations and maintain the integrity of classified information. The Pentagon’s investigation and use of polygraph tests underscore the seriousness with which they are approaching this issue.
(Source: The Associated Press)
