Washington D.C. – National Security Adviser Michael Waltz took full responsibility for a group chat that inadvertently included a journalist and leaked highly sensitive information about planned airstrikes in Yemen. The chat, on the private messaging app Signal, involved senior administration officials like Vice-President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of the Atlantic, revealed that he had been added to the group chat where details of planned attacks on the Houthis in Yemen were being discussed. Despite Waltz’s acknowledgement of the mistake, he also deflected blame, insulted Goldberg, and claimed ignorance of how the journalist ended up in the chat.

Waltz, consulting with Elon Musk to understand the breach, emphasized his responsibility for coordinating the group. He denied that a staffer was at fault and asserted that he played a key role in forming the group. However, he offered no concrete evidence for how Goldberg was included in the chat without his knowledge.

The incident prompted criticism from various quarters, with Mark Warner of the Senate intelligence committee calling it an example of sloppy and incompetent behavior towards classified information. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described it as a significant breach of military intelligence, while Senator Chris Coons suggested that all officials involved may have unknowingly committed a crime.

Goldberg’s reporting hinted at possible violations of the Espionage Act in Waltz’s use of Signal for national security-related discussions. The leak raised concerns about the security protocols and communication practices within the administration, highlighting the need for stricter safeguards in handling sensitive information.