A new Pentagon investigation has revealed that Vice President JD Vance re-entered the infamous Signal group chat at 2:30 a.m. just one day after the scandal broke involving leaked military strike details against Yemen.
The encrypted chat, known as the “Houthi PC Small Group,” became the center of a national security firestorm after it was revealed that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had shared sensitive strike information in the group using his personal phone. Even more alarming, The Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to the chat, allowing the leak to reach the public.
Despite the security breach already being exposed, Vance sent a message into the chat on March 25 at 2:30 a.m., writing:
“This chat’s kind of dead. Anything going on?”
According to the Department of Defense’s 84-page investigative report, no one responded.
What Happened After Vance’s Message Raises New Red Flags
Shortly after Vance posted his message, unusually suspicious activity followed:
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent activated a setting that automatically erased messages after eight hours
- A user named “MAR” quietly changed their profile name to “MR”
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe changed his display name to simply “John”
These actions have raised serious concerns among investigators about potential evidence cleanup after the scandal became public.
How the Yemen Strike Details Were Leaked
The report confirms that Hegseth received classified information about the upcoming Yemen strikes at 9 p.m. on March 14 from the head of U.S. Central Command. The email was clearly marked:
Just over 24 hours later, at 11:44 p.m. on March 15, Hegseth shared the same strike details inside the Signal chat on his personal phone right before the bombs were set to drop.
The Pentagon report states plainly that:
“Using a personal cell phone to conduct official business and send nonpublic DoD information through Signal risks potential compromise of sensitive DoD information, which could cause harm to DoD personnel and mission objectives.”
Investigators concluded that Hegseth violated departmental policies and directly endangered U.S. troops.
Journalist Exposure Forced Investigators to Rely on the Media
Goldberg broke the story on March 24, redacting operational details to avoid endangering lives. But when internal investigators later examined the case, they admitted something shocking:
They only had partial copies of the chat and were forced to rely heavily on the information published by The Atlantic.
That alone has triggered calls for deeper congressional oversight.
Hegseth Denies Everything, Democrats Push for His Firing
Hegseth has denied that any classified material was ever shared.
“No classified information,” he wrote on X. “Total exoneration. Case closed. Houthis bombed into submission.”
Democrats are not buying it.
Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued a blistering response:
“An objective, evidence-based investigation leaves no doubt: Secretary Hegseth endangered the lives of American pilots.”
Warner added that the scandal reflects a “broader pattern of recklessness and poor judgment” and said Hegseth is “in over his head.”
More Trouble Mounts for the Pentagon Chief
This scandal is not the only storm Hegseth is facing. He is also under scrutiny for allegedly ordering a “double tap” airstrike on a Venezuelan drug boat, where survivors were reportedly targeted in a second strike.
Hegseth has dismissed those accusations as “fake news” and insists the operation was legal under U.S. and international law.
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