Two members of the U.S. House representing Polk County have opposite responses to the report that top defense officials shared military attack plans through the Signal app.
Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic magazine, reported that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz inadvertently added his number to a group text on the encrypted messaging service in which he and other top officials discussed plans to attack Houthi rebels in Yemen.
In the chat, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared details in advance on how the military strike would be carried out. The Atlantic later published an article revealing excerpts from the group messages.
A Defense Department memo from 2023 prohibited the use of mobile applications for even “controlled unclassified information,” less sensitive than information about ongoing military operations, NPR reported.
Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, has joined other congressional Democrats in calling for Hegseth’s firing. He posted on X, supporting a letter House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, sent to President Donald Trump calling for Hegseth’s dismissal.
“I agree with Leader @RepJeffries,” Soto posted. “It’s time for Defense Secretary Hegseth to be FIRED for gross incompetence. These communications were almost certainly intercepted by our enemies. They could have been used to kill our troops near Yemen. It’s a miracle they survived.”
Soto also signed on to a letter from Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-California, addressed to Hegseth, Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard, stating, “You all jeopardized the lives of servicemembers. There must be accountability starting with the immediate resignation of Secretary Hegseth.”
Dozens of congressional Democrats signed that letter.
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By contrast, Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, expressed support for Waltz, a former U.S. House member from Florida, in an X post from March 25.
“I know and trust @MikeWaltz47,” Webster posted. “His military experience and commitment to a strong and secure America is exactly what we need in a National Security Advisor.
“@POTUS has always put America First, and I applaud his leadership in making our country — and the world — safer by taking decisive action against Houthi terrorists.”
The offices of Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Lakeland, and Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Brandon, did not respond to requests for comment sent Friday morning.
Trump has indicated that he has no plans to dismiss anyone involved in the group chat.
“I don’t fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts,” Trump said in an interview with NBC News.
Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County reps offer contrasting responses to Signal leak among defense officials
Reporting by Gary White, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
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