Rep. Mike Turner, a Republican from Ohio and former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, recently voiced his surprise regarding the Trump administration's reaction to leaked information from a Signal group chat discussing plans to attack the Houthi rebels. During an appearance on ABC News’s “This Week,” Turner highlighted the seriousness of the situation, emphasizing that the details shared in this chat should be treated as classified information.
In the group chat, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth initially claimed that no war plans were discussed. However, a subsequent report by The Atlantic revealed that Hegseth had shared sensitive information, including the specific location, timing, and weaponry intended for the attack. Turner expressed his astonishment at the casual handling of such critical military details, stating, “Clearly the subject matter that’s being discussed, the status of ongoing military operations, should be considered classified information.”
Turner, along with other Republicans, took issue with The Atlantic’s characterization of the messages as “war plans” or “attack plans.” He clarified, “They weren’t really attack plans; they were discussions of ongoing military operations.” This distinction, he argues, is crucial and reflects poorly on the publication's credibility. Turner suggested that Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic’s editor in chief, overemphasized the significance of the messages, thereby losing some of his credibility in the process.
In response to the controversy, the White House has maintained that no classified information was shared in the group chat. Turner finds it perplexing that there is confusion surrounding this information, asserting that it fundamentally stems from classified details. He criticized the White House's legalistic approach to the incident, noting that the individuals involved in the chat have the authority to declassify certain information.
Looking ahead, Turner anticipates that there will be an investigation conducted by the inspector general. He believes this inquiry should focus on whether the messages shared by Hegseth were classified at the time and if the Signal platform is appropriate for discussing such sensitive topics. “I do think that it is a platform that can be compromised and perhaps these types of discussions should not be used,” he remarked, highlighting the need for secure communication in matters of national security.
