In a significant move highlighting concerns about national security, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and leading Senate Democrats from various national security committees have addressed a letter to President Donald Trump. This correspondence seeks clarity regarding alarming reports that members of Trump's Cabinet utilized the Signal app to create a group chat. The intention behind this chat was to coordinate and share classified information pertaining to sensitive military operations, a process that inadvertently involved Jeff Goldberg, the Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic.
The senators expressed their profound concern over what they termed "astonishingly poor judgment" exhibited by the President's Cabinet and national security advisors. In their letter, obtained by ABC News, they emphasized the necessity for accountability and transparency in government, particularly regarding the handling of classified information, national security, and the protection of American servicemembers. They urged Trump to treat this breach with the utmost seriousness it warrants.
The letter outlined the need for a complete and unredacted transcript of the Signal chat, which is crucial for the respective committees to conduct a thorough review in a secure environment. Furthermore, the senators called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to initiate a detailed investigation into the incident. They raised concerns that the willful or negligent disclosure of classified or sensitive national security information could potentially violate the Espionage Act or other legal statutes.
In their correspondence, the senators urged Trump to ensure that the chat in question is preserved, along with any other discussions concerning government business conducted via messaging applications. They pointed out that the Signal messages are designed to automatically disappear after a set period, which raises concerns about potential violations of the Federal Records Act and the Presidential Records Act. The letter underscored the responsibility of the Cabinet in safeguarding the American populace, military personnel, and intelligence staff in active duty.
This letter is a collective effort from prominent Democrats across various committees that address national security issues. Notable signatories include Dick Durbin, Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee; Jack Reed, Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee; Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee; Mark Warner, Vice Chairman of the Intelligence Committee; Chris Coons, Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense; and Gary Peters, Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
In their letter, the senators delineated ten specific questions related to the reported Signal chat, seeking to uncover the extent of the breach. Their inquiries included requests for a full list of chat participants, whether any additional individuals were mistakenly added, and if anyone used a personal device to access the chat. They also questioned whether any individuals were overseas while accessing the chat and if any classified documents were transferred to unclassified systems.
Moreover, the senators sought information on whether the intelligence community has conducted a damage assessment regarding this incident. They also inquired about the use of Signal or other commercial messaging products by Cabinet or White House officials to discuss classified or sensitive information, or any communications subject to statutory record-keeping requirements. If such practices exist, they requested details on how the White House is adhering to necessary record-keeping regulations.
