UPDATE:U.S. intelligence chief admits ‘mistake’ in adding journalist to strike chat……. Read more

 

 

It was a “mistake” for senior Trump administration officials to have discussed details of United States military strikes on Houthi rebels in a group chat in which a journalist was included, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard acknowledged yesterday.

Gabbard’s concession before the House Intelligence Committee came as the administration finds itself embroiled in a deepening controversy. She said the text conversation was “candid and sensitive,” but maintained “no classified information was shared” among President Donald Trump’s top deputies.

“It was a mistake that a reporter was inadvertently added to a signal chat with high-level national security principles having a policy discussion about imminent strikes against the Houthis and the effects of the strike,” she told lawmakers.

There were no sources, methods, locations or war plans that were shared. This was a standard update to the national security cabinet that was provided alongside updates that were given to foreign partners in the region.”

Gabbard said the Signal messaging app comes pre-installed on government-issued devices as an approved end-to-end encrypted messaging platform.

Hours earlier, the magazine whose top editor was inadvertently added to the discussion, released screenshots of the entire chat thread, revealing that Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg received attack plans regarding the March 13 strikes hours before the strikes were carried out, including critical details.