“This is an embarrassment”: Democrats grill Trump intelligence officials over Yemen group chat leak

in The hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday morning, the Director of National Intelligence Tolsi Gabbard The Director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, has repeatedly denied any violations related to the chat group chat, as the administration officials discussed sensitive military operations, and a chat. It included by mistake The editor -in -chief of the Atlantic Ocean Jeffrey Goldberg.

No, the opening statement of Gabbard, which was delivered on behalf of RATCLFFE and FBI Director Cash PatelNor the initial notes of President Tom Couton, R-RK. I mentioned the emerging scandal. The Republicans were generally forgiving From the Trump administration during the chat, although a minority joined the Democrats in describing it as a terrible violation of the National Security Protocol.

When Democrats in the committee tried to interrogate Gabbard about its role in group chat, including whether it is used called “TG” and if you use a special cell phone while participating in the discussions, she did her best to avoid.

She said, “Senator, I do not want to enter this,” in the discontent of the committee’s arrangement, Senator Mark Warner, D-VA.

She pressed this, Gabbard insisted that she could not talk about this issue because it was under the inner review. All of her and RATCLFFE also claimed that none of the information on the signal group chat, which included detailed plans for The targets of bombing in Yemen And how American aircraft will offer the load, they were classified. Ratcliffe explained, moreover, that its use to apply the signal to discuss these operations was legal and completely appropriate.

“In order to be clear, I did not participate in any groom messages related to any secret information at all,” said Ratcliffe.

Senator Angus King, I, expressed suspicions of such a claim. “It is difficult for me to believe that the targets, timing and weapons will not be classified,” he told Gabbard, who has been not banned.

Senator John Osov, d. “We will get the full text of this series and your testimony will be carefully measured against its content.”

Senator Michael Bennett, De Colo, explained the CIA director for not only lost Goldberg, but it seems unaware that one of the chat members, Trump’s Consultant in the Middle East was Steve Whitkov, in Moscow, where officials rotated ideas on how to bomb Houthi targets.

“This slope, this is the inefficiency, this is the lack of respect for our intelligence agencies and the employees for whom they work are completely unacceptable. It is embarrassed. You have to do better,” Bennett said.

Officials did not confirm how Goldberg became part of the chat, although the Atlantic editor said in his article on Monday that he was National Security Adviser Mike Walz was responsible. The White House since then Issued Emphasizing that the Pallis has learned from his mistake and will continue in his role.

Patel, who was not reported to be a member of the collective chat, told the committee members that he was only informed of the leakage last night; He hasn’t said if he had launched an investigation yet. Gabbard and RATCLIFE said they will be open to communications audit.