Beatty Demands Accountability for Trump Officials’ Reckless Leak of National Security Details

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel demanding an immediate and thorough investigation into high-ranking Trump Administration officials’ mishandling of highly sensitive and likely classified information relating to recent U.S. national security operations on the messaging app, Signal:

“I write with grave concern for American national security given the recent report in The Atlantic that several high-ranking members of the Trump Administration, including Vice President J.D. Vance, mishandled sensitive and likely classified information about U.S. national security operations. Any American who values the sacrifices our troops make to keep our country safe should be deeply outraged by this report.”

“It is unconscionable that the very individuals entrusted with keeping our nation safe may have compromised national security and endangered the lives of American troops with grossly negligent actions. National security experts have opined that, based on the messages from the group chat that have been released, the information discussed would be highly restricted, if not classified at some of the highest levels,” Beatty wrote in the letter. “This would make the mention of these details to unauthorized persons - including a reporter like Mr. Goldberg - unlawful and its discussion outside of a secure location like a SCIF, let alone on personal devices, while traveling internationally, and through a commercially available application like Signal, also improper.”

 

“As the Department of Justice, you have the responsibility - as part of your stated mission - ‘to uphold the rule of law and keep our country safe,’ and to ‘follow the facts and the law wherever they may lead, without prejudice.’' Despite this Administration's clearly demonstrated belief that it is above the law, it is imperative that you fulfill the duties of the positions you swore an oath to serve in,” Beatty continued in the letter, “I therefore demand that you conduct a timely, thorough, and proper investigation into the reported mishandling of national defense-related information by senior Trump Administration officials and take all resulting steps necessary to hold those who committed violations of federal law fully accountable. I look forward to your timely response.”

Read the full letter HERE.

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