Former JAG officer: "There is not an officer alive whose career would survive a security breach like that."

[Demovictory9]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/opinion/atlantic-hegseth-vance-houthis.html

This would be a stunning breach of security. I’m a former Army JAG officer (an Army lawyer). I’ve helped investigate numerous allegations of classified information spillages, and I’ve never even heard of anything this egregious — a secretary of defense intentionally using a civilian messaging app to share sensitive war plans without even apparently noticing a journalist was in the chat.

There is not an officer alive whose career would survive a security breach like that. It would normally result in instant consequences (relief from command, for example) followed by a comprehensive investigation and, potentially, criminal charges.

Federal law makes it a crime when a person — through gross negligence — removes information “relating to the national defense” from “its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of his trust, or to be lost, stolen, abstracted or destroyed.”

It’s way too soon to say whether Hegseth’s incompetence is also criminal, but I raise the possibility to demonstrate the sheer magnitude of the reported mistake. A security breach that significant requires a thorough investigation.

[Ocelot II]

1. If blowback lands on Krasnov, Hogsbreath will be looking at the undercarriage of a bus

before he can finish another bottle of Jack Daniels. If not, he'll last at DoD as long as his liver holds out.

[NotHardly]

42. If Pete Had Any Honor,...this is the key, he has no honor.

[NCDem47]

49. HAHAHAHA..."Honor" Good one.

[dixiegrrrrl]

87. Or until he exposes more more state information.

Pretty sure his liver related problem is not a secret by now.

[Irish_Dem]

2. The name of a CIA agent/asset was released in the text.

That agent is now in danger if he or she is still alive.

The Naval Air Crews were also placed in grave danger.

This is criminal.

[Owens]

45. At the hearings

Republicans are trying to protect them and kiss Trump's butt at the same time. It's sickening!

[Irish_Dem]

53. But they cannot be bothered to protect the military or CIA.

[3auld6phart]

64. Those

Gawddamn republicans and
those turncoat Dems. All kiss the AA al. sphincter of o that gross orange freak. f**king cowardly traitors all.

[Pinback]

73. The Plame Game? (nt)

[Irish_Dem]

77. Exactly, I have been thinking about Valerie Plame too.

Bush/Cheney outed a CIA agent and didn't give a damn they put her in danger
and ruined the cover for a highly trained, experienced agent.

[LiberalArkie]

85. But it did help the Russians didn't it.. We think it is something new, I don't.

[Irish_Dem]

86. Yep. My thoughts exactly.

Same old same old.

[C_U_L8R]

3. They have no legitimate reason to be on Signal, none of them.

They are evading accountability and breaking the law while they do it. Lord knows what other illegal shit they're trying to cover up. Anyone truly interested in our national security should be pounding on this until there are resignations and punishments.

[newdeal2]

6. Remember, Musk setup Starlink all over the White House

Likely for similar reasons.

[Solly Mack]

4. Yep

[yardwork]

5. Hegseth was confirmed with 50 Republican votes.

Three Republican senators voted against Hegseth: Collins, McConnell, and Murkowski.

Every Democratic senator voted against Hegseth.

Make the Republicans pay.

[FalloutShelter]

7. Lock him up.

I understand Leavenworth is nice this time of year.

[NotHardly]

43. It is and the prison overlooks the mighty Missouri river, lovely.

[Silent Type]

8. Wonder if trump will announce his good friend Pete is going into rehab?

[Demovictory9]

10. Stepping down to spend more time with family..

[joho260]

37. Family

Favorite family member is Old Grand Dad.

[UTUSN]

9. K&R for, K&R

[AllyCat]

11. Says the "newspaper" that propped up this cabal.

The New Nazi Times.

[maxsolomon]

72. It's a guest Op-Ed. Not the Editorial Board.

"Propped up this cabal" is a real stretch.

"Failed to criticize Trump enough in straight news reporting for DU's liking" is more accurate. The Editorial Board never minced words.

But go ahead call the NYT, owned by the Jewish Sulzberger family, Nazis; the word is being completely devalued as an insult.

[AllyCat]

78. Oh gimme a break. They didn't report anything

Peyneeded to know before the election when it actually mattered.

[maxsolomon]

79. Do you subscribe? I do.

I read so many damning articles on MFer and Repukes over the last 5 years that I can't take any more.

I'm skipping the front section since the inauguration. Business section is bad enough.

[niyad]

12. Dear former JAG officer, don't hold your breath waiting for that "thorough investigation".

[kimbutgar]

13. Nothing will happen to Hegseth

He is under the cover of IOKIYAR syndrome. Fox and ther right wing media will report just a little and move on to another fake Democrat scandal.

[orleans]

29. would it be too much trouble for you to actually spell out, in words, what you are referring to? as of now i have no

fucking idea what that "syndrome" is you are talking about.
and one thing du has shown me over the years is that i am never the only one (meaning if i don't get it there are others who also don't know your shorthand)

[MagickMuffin]

31. IOKIYAR syndrome: it's ok if you are a republican

I believe that is the meaning. I understand the frustration.

[orleans]

35. thank you nt

[3catwoman3]

67. You'll see that one a lot here.

I’ve actually found it to be fun to master a variety of what I think of as “text speak” terms. Kind of like learning a foreign language.

[birdographer]

75. I know...

I swear I think sometimes these posters are just making up long strings of letters for attention.

[Attilatheblond]

60. Nothing OFFICIAL will happen, but if exposed asset dies/disappears, one might consider some spooks could be a bit peeved

I wouldn't want one of our INTEL people annoyed with me. Drunk At DOD better sober up and watch his back. Tulsi too.

[Martin Eden]

14. Trump is more likely to attack the media over this than to ask for Hegseth's resignation

Never admit a mistake, and always stay on offense.

[Karasu]

80. Safe bet, considering that's how Republicans respond to everything, and exactly what Hegseth himself has already done.

[Abolishinist]

15. So surprised to learn this wasn't from Lindsey Graham.

[James48]

16. And there is NO Inspector General to report crimes to.

Because Trump fired all his IG’s.

[Karasu]

81. Illegally, of course, but yes.

[Historic NY]

17. Trumps DEi hires

[Bernardo de La Paz]

70. Hogsbreath is DEI: Drunk Every Instant. . . . . . nt

[Initech]

18. The dipshits on Fox are trying to downplay it as the text's fault.

Hey Fox: YOU REALLY FUCKING SUCK AT RUNNING OUR COUNTRY! GET THE FUCK OUT NOW!!!

[rickyhall]

19. Always risk when you drunks.

My dad hired drunks. Often had to post their bail. They were great mechanics when sober.

[Mopar151]

24. His job is not a good one for a drinking man

Any of his gigs, he did poorly, 'cuz he flunked Show Up, Clean Shirt, Shaved and SOBER!

Dubya had similar issues, iirc.

[artemisia1]

20. Yes, but all the drunk major has to say is that it didn't happen. His boss is already attacking the source. RW'ers will

and do believe Trump saying it isn't true. All he has to do is lie and it is gospel to them.

[MMBeilis]

22. Yep, that would do it. Claim it's fake news and a lefty plot. Nice when the kids learn from the master.

[Old Crank]

23. Do not forget that JD was in on the call also.

So he is just as involved with this mess.

[Klarkashton]

25. It doesn't matter anymore. The crazy bastards are in charge

They don't know where this is headed and they don't care other than it's smash and grab.

[YoshidaYui]

26. But Sir, ...

Trump doesn’t care.

[Daleuhlmann]

27. Of Course!

Gross criminal imcompetence!

[BurnDoubt]

28. The Incompetence...

Starts with the "Man On The Gold Commode" and dribbles on down to the Cabinet and all the Maga Minions. Chosen for their Good Looks and willingness to slobber wherever he points his dainty digits, they're totally useless in their roles aside from trashing the Federal Government, where their incompetence won't be noticed, or reported, or officially recorded... or punished.

[orleans]

30. for a minute there this excerpt seemed to be about trump when i read:

"Federal law makes it a crime when a person — through gross negligence — removes information “relating to the national defense” from “its proper place of custody or delivered to anyone in violation of his trust, or to be lost, stolen, abstracted or destroyed.”

[qazplm135]

32. As a retired Army JAG

I can cosign.

At minimum a formally filed letter of reprimand and end of career. A court-martial is also on the table

[William769]

33. K&R!

[ms liberty]

34. It's yet more proof of their incompetence...

And if they DON'T destroy democracy, it will likely only be because they're such incompetent dumba**es that they couldn't pull it off before we organized and stopped them.

[ironman_25]

36. Hypocrisy

Tis is a glaring example of the blatant hypocrisy of the Republican Party. Every mole hill they try to turn into a dramatic crisis warrants the utmost enforcement of penalties. It's what we get when money monger is attempting to set himself as a dictator with a bunch of hand picked yes men stooges being in control. It is time to wake up and get these losers out of the picture and have educated responsible people back at the helm.

[travelingthrulife]

38. Whiskey Pete strikes again.

[Martin68]

39. LOL "If Pete Hegseth had any honor." If he had any honor, it would have disqualified him for a position in the Trump

administration. Other disqualifying characteristics: loyalty to the country, loyalty to the Constitution, principles, empathy, relevant experience, relevant knowledge, relevant eduction, moral fiber, and, except in very rare cases, not being a white male MAGAt.

[travelingthrulife]

40. This is why you strive NOT to put traitorous felons in the White House

[neohippie]

41. How he responded when asked about this tells you everything

He lied about what happened and the fact that Trump doesn't seem to be bothered by any of this is another tell

These people not only are not able to follow rule or the law, they don't care about those things either

[MayReasonRule]

44. Honor Requires Valor, Valor Requires Discretion -- Fascists Wholly Lack Discretion, Valor And Honor

Fascists have only one guiding 'moral' value, abject depravity.

Evil through and through.

[pamdb]

46. royal cock up

I don't think you can put Hegseth and honor in the same sentence.

[malthaussen]

47. You know what? BFD. The man in the WH absconded with hundreds of sensitive documents...

... many of them critical to National Security in a very real sense, not in the bullshit sense with which politicians usually invoke the term. Nothing happened to him, and now he runs the Administration. Compared to that, this group chat fuckup is nothing.

A while back, some CongressCritter or other went into a SCIF with his cell phone, another egregious breach of OPSEC. I remember the outrage and pearl-clutching well. Nothing happened to him. Nothing ever happens to these people.

OPSEC is a joke when the people responsible for it are clowns.

-- Mal

[joeybear]

48. You are absolutely right! My Father was TJAG from 1967 to 1971

Last edited Tue Mar 25, 2025, 07:41 PM - Edit history (1)

My Father was TJAG from 1967 to 1971. I went Navy enlisted and had a top secret because of watches I stood and equipment that I worked on. He and I talked about the topic numerous times.

[RoeVWade]

50. Update: Looks like they're trying to throw Hegseth under the bus. Where he deserves to go. but not just him

nt*

[louis-t]

51. Yeah, but her emails.

[Takket]

52. Scumbag Gabbard just said the conversation "wasn't classified"

That’s actually WAY WORSE than just admitting you fucked up. The administration is NOT CLASSIFYING plans to bomb other countries???? Why the hell was it not classified????

[Bernardo de La Paz]

69. She said so under oath. That makes this instance official, and Goldberg is free to publish it. . . . nt

[hay rick]

54. There is no expectation of adult responsibility or accountability.

The only criterion for behavior in this administration is whether or not it angers Trump.

[DENVERPOPS]

55. Their leader, Trump

has done it countless times......Releasing a picture he took, to the press, of Seals from Team Six, showing all their faces, and therefore ending their SEAL careers in a split second??????????

[Initech]

56. He should, but he won't. That might look bad on his real employer, Fox News.

Fox News is poison.

[Augiedog]

57. First he would have to sober up

[samsingh]

58. Republicans don't have honor

[Karasu]

82. Anyone who still considers themselves one after everything that's happened in the last decade sure as fuck doesn't.

[relayerbob]

59. If he had any honor, he wouldn't be in that position

[Bluethroughu]

61. Vance and Hogsbreath should be called up and court martialed.

[Turbineguy]

62. If wishes were horses....

[IronLionZion]

63. If he had any honor

he would have declined nomination for a job he is clearly unqualified and unable to handle.

[sakabatou]

65. Honor? In repukes?

AHAHAHAHAHAH!

[The Roux Comes First]

66. As We Well Know "Honor" and "Integrity" Are Weasily "Woke" Made-up Concepts to Any True

Trump boot-licker/voter.

But good for the Times to get this out despite the damage it could do to their ongoing program of normalizing the occupation of our Federal government by convicted and soon-to-be criminals.

[DFW]

68. Yeah, and if Donald Trump had any wings, he would fly.

I doubt there is much chance of discovering either.

[maxsolomon]

71. Different rules for different folks.

None of the clowns in the chat are in the Military. They don't have rules; they serve at the pleasure of MFer.

[3catwoman3]

74. If Hegseth were actually...

…on active duty rather than holding the SecDef position, for which he is supremely unqualified, he would be relieved of that duty.

[Evolve Dammit]

76. NONE of these asshat admin folks have any concern for anything, but having fun with burning it all down. Above the law.

[MadMike47]

83. And if the Queen had balls, she'd be the King.

[red dog 1]

84. To top it all off, Hegseth lied about it!

[MissouriDem47]

88. As a young Air Force Staff Sergeant

I remember to this day and it was more than 50 years ago, climbing through the dumpster by the flight line looking for a Secret document for which I was accountable, knowing that my future depended on finding it. To my relief it l turned later that day as it had been placed in the wrong safe.

Trump and his administration has no concept about protecting national security. What is sad, they don't care.

[moondust]

89. The clearest explanation of the danger

involved in the Signal messaging I've heard was offered by Sen. Mark Kelly tonight on the Last Word. He said he was a pilot in Afghanistan who had a bomb explode next to his plane. If the enemy knows in advance what and where an attack will take place, they have a much better chance of preparing for and eliminating the threat.

[ironman_25]

90. It's what you get

This is what you get when you have over 70 million knuckle draggers elect a loud mouth mirage of a successful businessman to run the country. Hegseth tries to be all macho and tough guy to justify his position in the government but he is so unqualified. Listen to the high ranking military officials talk and explain proper oversight of troops and military force. Hegseth has no class or humbleness about what he has been entrusted with, instead he is arrogant and loud mouthed flexing his new found power. He is so in over his head and hasn't any background experience to guide him in this endeavor.
Instead of a distinguished leader who automatically receives respect, he comes off as the guy who gets smarter and louder after each round at the bar.