Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois stated, “Classified information is designated as such for a specific purpose. Secretary Hegseth was publicly disseminating classified materials through an unsecured channel, which could have jeopardized the safety of service members. Furthermore, he was dishonest about his actions. He ought to resign.”
Hours after The Atlantic published screenshots of a chat revealing that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed plans to eliminate a Houthi militant leader in Yemen just two hours prior to a military operation typically kept under wraps, Democrats on Wednesday demanded the resignation of the senior Trump official.
Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois criticized Hegseth for allegedly disseminating classified information through an unsecured channel.
“Classified information is designated as such for a reason. Secretary Hegseth was recklessly sharing classified materials on an insecure platform, potentially putting service members at risk. Furthermore, he misled about it. He should resign,” Krishnamoorthi stated on X, shortly after interrogating intelligence officials during a hearing on Wednesday.
Colorado Representative Jason Crow supported this view, labeling it “outrageous” that administration officials appeared before Congress without facing consequences.
“The defense secretary must resign immediately. There can be no solutions or corrections until accountability is established,” Crow emphasized.
Other Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee dismissed claims by Tulsi Gabbard and John Ratcliffe that the chat contained no classified information.
They referenced the messages released by The Atlantic on Wednesday as proof that the leak could have compromised the mission’s success or endangered the lives of U.S. service members.
The revelation that sensitive attack plans were shared via a commercial messaging app, potentially using personal cell phones, has incited outrage in Washington and prompted calls from Democrats for the removal of members from Trump’s national security team.
The Trump administration is currently attempting to manage the repercussions of a March 15 chat that included The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, on the encrypted messaging platform Signal.
Hegseth has refuted allegations of disclosing military strategies, while Trump and his advisors maintain that no classified information was revealed. This position has caused confusion among Democrats and former U.S. officials, who argue that details regarding timing and targeting are among the most sensitive aspects prior to a military operation.
Democrat Jim Himes from Connecticut expressed during a House Intelligence Committee hearing, “I believe it is by the grace of God that we are not currently mourning the loss of pilots,” as reported by Reuters.
He emphasized that if Houthi leaders had knowledge of an imminent attack, they could have evaded it by relocating to densely populated areas, thereby complicating targeting efforts and heightening the risk of civilian casualties.
Although the conversation reportedly did not mention specific names or exact locations of Houthi militants, critics contend that the mere act of sharing such information poses serious security risks.
In related news, the White House stated on Wednesday that President Trump continues to have faith in his senior national security officials. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt remarked during a press briefing, “What I can confirm is that I just spoke with the president, and he maintains his confidence in his national security team,” as quoted by AFP, with contributions from various agencies.
