The Daily Populous Friday April 18th, 2025 night edition
Authored by cbsnews.com and submitted by LadyMadonna_x6

Pete Hegseth's use of Signal to be evaluated by Defense Department watchdog

The Pentagon has put two Defense Department officials on administrative leave pending an investigation into an unauthorized disclosure, officials confirmed to CBS News.

Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was escorted from the Pentagon on Tuesday, according to an official. Darin Selnick, the Pentagon's deputy chief of staff, was also suspended as part of the same probe per two Defense Department officials

Additional personnel removals are being discussed at the Pentagon amid a probe into Defense Department leaks, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.

Hegseth's chief of staff Joe Kasper issued a memo at the end of March directing the Pentagon to conduct an investigation into unauthorized disclosures and use lie detector tests if necessary.

Reuters was the first to report Caldwell was put on administrative leave amid an investigation. Politico was first to report Selnick being placed on leave.

A source familiar says Caldwell is accused of sharing classified documents with reporters.

Caldwell previously worked at Defense Priorities, a foreign policy think tank, and Concerned Veterans for America, an organization Hegseth formerly led. Caldwell served in the Marine Corps and is a veteran of the Iraq War.

He was mentioned in The Atlantic article that showed text messages about strikes against the Houthis. According to The Atlantic, Hegseth designated him in the chat to represent the Defense Department.

The memo from Kasper was issued the same day the Pentagon and the White House vehemently denied reports that Elon Musk was visiting the Pentagon to receive a briefing on war plans in the event of a war with China. Although the Trump administration has said that Musk has no official role at the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk has been heavily involved in the agency and has attended several of President Trump's Cabinet meetings.

black_flag_4ever on April 17th, 2025 at 15:38 UTC »

What about Hegseth? Shouldn't he be on leave too?

Bhosley on April 17th, 2025 at 15:37 UTC »

> A source familiar says Caldwell is accused of sharing classified documents with reporters.

Oh, is that a problem for Hegseth now?

Antonioshamstrings on April 17th, 2025 at 15:36 UTC »

Such a mess. 0 Professionalism