A Pentagon investigation has faulted US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for using Signal on his personal device to transmit sensitive information about planned strikes in Yemen, saying it could have endangered US troops if intercepted, two people familiar with the document say.
However, the report by the Pentagon’s independent Inspector General did not weigh in on whether the information Hegseth posted was classified at the time since it acknowledged that he, as the head of the Pentagon, can decide what information is classified and what is not, the sources say.
The report has not yet been publicly released, something US officials expect to happen this week.
In a statement, the Pentagon says the review cleared the US defense secretary, comments echoed by Hegseth himself later on social media.
“No classified information. Total exoneration. Case closed,” Hegseth says on X.
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