A third senior Pentagon official was placed on leave amid leak probe
A third high-level Pentagon staffer has been placed on administrative leave in two days as part of a probe into media leaks. Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Secretary Stephen Feinberg, was escorted out of the building on Wednesday, following Dan Caldwell, senior advisor to Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Darin Selnick, deputy chief of staff to Hegseth.
“We can confirm that Mr. Carroll has been placed on administrative leave pending investigation. We have nothing additional to provide at this time,” a defense official told Fox News Digital. Carroll did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Pentagon has not provided specifics about what the three officials are accused of leaking. Last month Defense Department (DOD) announced it would launch a probe into “recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information” and might employ the use of polygraphs to determine the source of the leaks.
“The use of polygraphs in the execution of this investigation will be in accordance with applicable law and policy,” DOD Chief of Staff Joe Kasper wrote in a memo. “This investigation will commence immediately and culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense.”
He wrote that “information identifying a party responsible for an unauthorized disclosure” would be referred for criminal prosecution.
The recent actions taken against high-level Pentagon staff members highlight the seriousness with which the Department of Defense is approaching leaks of national security information. With the use of polygraphs and the threat of criminal prosecution, the DOD is sending a clear message that unauthorized disclosures will not be tolerated.
The removal of these staffers also raises questions about the culture of leaking within the Pentagon and whether more individuals will be implicated in the ongoing probe. As the investigation unfolds, it will be important to monitor any new developments and understand the implications for national security.
In the meantime, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continues to fulfill his duties, recently attending a NATO Defense Ministers meeting in Brussels. The focus remains on maintaining the security and integrity of the Pentagon and ensuring that all staff members adhere to strict protocols regarding the handling of sensitive information.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.
