The Signalgate squad potentially committed serious federal crimes with very long statutes of limitations -- and Senate Republicans have opened the door to investigations of the billowing scandal.
At the DOD is the Inspector General an "acting Inspector General" or a qualified Inspector General that has returned to the position after being laid off?
Second, yesterday I learned this: "American Oversight Sues Trump Administration for Using Signal to Plan Military Operations
The lawsuit targets Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, Bessent, Rubio for violating federal records laws by using messaging app Signal for high-level national security deliberations, and seeks to recover unlawfully deleted messages and prevent further destruction."
The case was assigned to Judge James Boadberg!
I'm really familiar with Marc Elias (Democracy Docket), Democracy Forward, and CREW. I've not heard of americanoversight.org before. Here is their mission: "American Oversight is a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog that advances truth, accountability, and democracy by enforcing the public’s right to government records."
My son, who used to work for a high-ranking Democrat in the Senate, explained to me that such conversations should be on secure phones in secure rooms called "SCIF" rooms.
I think so. I subscribe to The Guardian. This is much better than NYT. I’d like to see all of the Venmo transactions from Waltz’s account! Here’s the Guardian Live Blog from just now.
There is already more than enough for Senate Democrats to draft and publish their criminal referrals and put the onus on the Republicans and the Trump Administration to explain why they are not pursuing them. Make Trump issue preemptive pardons so all can see once again that he is lawless and has no legitimacy.
These sycophantic clowns clearly broke the law. They clearly violated OPSEC rules. They all know that the Signal app cannot be used in communications subject to the Presidential Records Act of 1978., and they know why. They all know they should not be using their personal phones to discuss National Defense information. They all know that Government phones should not have the Signal app on them. I think their conduct injures this Nation’s security and is a lot more than “gross criminal negligence”.
CENTCOM would have classified the Yemen Strike Plan. The Strike Plan should have been classified Top Secret SBI (Need to Know). That would be recorded at MacDill AFB in Tampa, CENTCOM headquarters. They govern this document’s classification level unless officially superseded by the OCA or the POTUS in a written document.
Two questions. 1) What was the security classification first assigned to this Strike Plan? 2) Has this classification level been changed, and if so, what date and time?
Thank you Tristan, great article here. I'd also question the actual "green light" on this operation, ie, who drew up the tactical plan that also killed approximately 54 (?) other civilians when the U.S. was after ONE guy ? Were regulations followed? Etc. Plus, those Signal participants should be required to surrender their phones to examine whether or not there's malware installed on each of them, a further compromise of intelligence.
Lastly, and annoyingly, you just KNOW that the mango wanker will pardon ALL of them if convicted....he'll do a "preemptive " pardon to skirt the stat. of lims. He's just as dirty as they are. Have you noticed he's looking REALLY demented lately? He's got a very strange look about him and his skin looks very unhealthy, as do his rheumy eyes....advanced pre frontal dementia getting aggressive??
The Chief of Staff, who is the gatekeeper to things brought to the president, basically has nearly the same security clearance that the president does.
The only problem with criminal charges is that Trump would just pardon them. I don’t know what kind of civil charges or law suits could be brought, but I think those will be the only productive judicial outcomes for the next four years.
The pardon power is absolute. Even if the statute of limitations has not run out, and no charges have been brought, Trump can still pardon the cabinet members (!) and others on the chat, and any other Signal chats, and those pardons will survive. Do I have that right?
Hi, Paula B., according to Webster's unabridged dictionary, a person who accepts a pardon is acknowledging guilt. However, we do know there are exceptions such as Biden trying to protect people from Trump, preemptively.
But he can only pardon criminal convictions, not civil. Also, treason charges can be levied up to ten years after the event; if we can get a real AG in the 2028 or 2032, these people could potentially be charged!
She’s not even pretending she’s not a Ru$$ian Asset
Oh don’t worry guys, our top intelligence official is just casually boosting Russian state media, but it’s fine because it’s her personal account. Totally normal.
Rest of conversation -
HIMES: Do you think it’s responsible for you, as head of the intelligence community, to retweet posts from individuals affiliated with Russian state media?
GABBARD: That retweet came from my personal account.
HIMES: Personal account? You’re the Director of National Intelligence, not an Instagram influencer. There’s no such thing as “personal” when you’re elevating Kremlin propaganda.
GABBARD: I have the right to share information—
HIMES: Information? You mean Russian disinformation. You sit in high-level intelligence briefings, then turn around and boost the same narratives Moscow is pushing. Should we just CC the Kremlin on your next meeting and cut out the middleman?
GABBARD: This is just an attempt to smear me—
HIMES: Smear you? You lied under oath in a Senate hearing yesterday, claiming you knew nothing about classified information, while sitting in Signal chats where war plans were discussed. You retweet Kremlin-backed sources, then act shocked when people question your loyalties.
GABBARD: I’m focused on national security—
HIMES: National security? While pushing Russian propaganda and pretending you’re clueless about intelligence leaks? If a Democrat had done half of this, you’d be screaming treason on national TV.
GABBARD: This is about free speech—
HIMES: Free speech? You’re the President’s top intelligence advisor, not some random guy on Twitter. Every word you amplify has consequences. And right now, you’re handing America’s enemies exactly what they want—straight from your "personal account."
These treasonous jackasses see what tool 45 got away with after J6 and no accountability while the Supreme Court hangs in his back pocket, so why wouldn’t they continue to play the same game tool played with the courts??!! These people are treasonous authoritarians. They will continue to demolish this democracy & ultimately blocking any votes in elections that would remove them from office in 26 and beyond.
This has to be solved only 1 way as the system and current democrats continue to fail with limited or no voices, options or attempts. The GQP under tool 45 aren’t stopping and won’t stop until they control everything. Only 1 thing will solve this and that’s US citizens flooding the streets and I hate to say it but possibly another civil war on the people & organizations behind project 2025 to demolish them and the treasonous politicians implementing it. Jmo
Let’s stop focusing on this tip of the iceberg that included a journalist and start insisting on finding out how many other Signal groups there are.
Maybe we will find out from the security agencies of other countries.
I wonder if our now former allies would tell us. Would you?
At the DOD is the Inspector General an "acting Inspector General" or a qualified Inspector General that has returned to the position after being laid off?
Second, yesterday I learned this: "American Oversight Sues Trump Administration for Using Signal to Plan Military Operations
The lawsuit targets Hegseth, Gabbard, Ratcliffe, Bessent, Rubio for violating federal records laws by using messaging app Signal for high-level national security deliberations, and seeks to recover unlawfully deleted messages and prevent further destruction."
The case was assigned to Judge James Boadberg!
I'm really familiar with Marc Elias (Democracy Docket), Democracy Forward, and CREW. I've not heard of americanoversight.org before. Here is their mission: "American Oversight is a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog that advances truth, accountability, and democracy by enforcing the public’s right to government records."
My son, who used to work for a high-ranking Democrat in the Senate, explained to me that such conversations should be on secure phones in secure rooms called "SCIF" rooms.
Was Bessent involved in that FUBAR too? Damn, the entire roster of dunces
I think so. I subscribe to The Guardian. This is much better than NYT. I’d like to see all of the Venmo transactions from Waltz’s account! Here’s the Guardian Live Blog from just now.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/mar/27/signal-leak-us-politics-donald-trump-republicans-democrats-latest-news-updates
Hello, HI12thDoc, yup....
T.M.I.
There is already more than enough for Senate Democrats to draft and publish their criminal referrals and put the onus on the Republicans and the Trump Administration to explain why they are not pursuing them. Make Trump issue preemptive pardons so all can see once again that he is lawless and has no legitimacy.
These sycophantic clowns clearly broke the law. They clearly violated OPSEC rules. They all know that the Signal app cannot be used in communications subject to the Presidential Records Act of 1978., and they know why. They all know they should not be using their personal phones to discuss National Defense information. They all know that Government phones should not have the Signal app on them. I think their conduct injures this Nation’s security and is a lot more than “gross criminal negligence”.
CENTCOM would have classified the Yemen Strike Plan. The Strike Plan should have been classified Top Secret SBI (Need to Know). That would be recorded at MacDill AFB in Tampa, CENTCOM headquarters. They govern this document’s classification level unless officially superseded by the OCA or the POTUS in a written document.
Two questions. 1) What was the security classification first assigned to this Strike Plan? 2) Has this classification level been changed, and if so, what date and time?
I asked at their Public Affairs Office. I expect no reply. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/cabal-signals-classified-conflict?r=3m1bs
What about the fact that only Congress can declare war? Why were they even planning war actions?
Is this the last straw to finally get active duty and retired military personnel to stop supporting MAGA?!
Will the active duty folks even hear about it? (just like Faux News watchers don't know about the $748 million settlement with Dominion)
It was $787.5 million
Thank you Tristan, great article here. I'd also question the actual "green light" on this operation, ie, who drew up the tactical plan that also killed approximately 54 (?) other civilians when the U.S. was after ONE guy ? Were regulations followed? Etc. Plus, those Signal participants should be required to surrender their phones to examine whether or not there's malware installed on each of them, a further compromise of intelligence.
Lastly, and annoyingly, you just KNOW that the mango wanker will pardon ALL of them if convicted....he'll do a "preemptive " pardon to skirt the stat. of lims. He's just as dirty as they are. Have you noticed he's looking REALLY demented lately? He's got a very strange look about him and his skin looks very unhealthy, as do his rheumy eyes....advanced pre frontal dementia getting aggressive??
God, what a FUBAR mess we're in 😞
I have been saying to my husband the last few weeks that the FFOTUS is looking really bad. His color, not the orange, his demeanor, his eyes
I think he has all but checked out
Just waiting for the checkout
Soon I anticipate based on his physical appearance.
I too want to know what other Signal or other apps like this are on their personal devices.
I know this was not a one off
Also why was Susie Wiles and Stephen Miller in that chat.
Do they both have super top clearance?
The Chief of Staff, who is the gatekeeper to things brought to the president, basically has nearly the same security clearance that the president does.
Yes- and no Joint Chiefs?
The only problem with criminal charges is that Trump would just pardon them. I don’t know what kind of civil charges or law suits could be brought, but I think those will be the only productive judicial outcomes for the next four years.
Yeah, but hopefully we at least get them out of their official positions. They are a legit danger to our national security
The pardon power is absolute. Even if the statute of limitations has not run out, and no charges have been brought, Trump can still pardon the cabinet members (!) and others on the chat, and any other Signal chats, and those pardons will survive. Do I have that right?
Yes, but only for federal offenses. It doesn't apply to state charges (like his 34 felonies).
But isn't that an admission of guilt?
If the pardon is accepted, I believe the person must write an acceptance outlining the crime he’s being pardoned for.
Hi, Paula B., according to Webster's unabridged dictionary, a person who accepts a pardon is acknowledging guilt. However, we do know there are exceptions such as Biden trying to protect people from Trump, preemptively.
👍 Yes, thank you!
Yes. The pardon can be constructed very broadly too, to cover numerous acts and time frames that are expansive to go well beyond any Stat. of lims.
But he can only pardon criminal convictions, not civil. Also, treason charges can be levied up to ten years after the event; if we can get a real AG in the 2028 or 2032, these people could potentially be charged!
Thank you. Who was the person that they thought was on the chat? That could be the nail .. Russia?
She’s not even pretending she’s not a Ru$$ian Asset
Oh don’t worry guys, our top intelligence official is just casually boosting Russian state media, but it’s fine because it’s her personal account. Totally normal.
Rest of conversation -
HIMES: Do you think it’s responsible for you, as head of the intelligence community, to retweet posts from individuals affiliated with Russian state media?
GABBARD: That retweet came from my personal account.
HIMES: Personal account? You’re the Director of National Intelligence, not an Instagram influencer. There’s no such thing as “personal” when you’re elevating Kremlin propaganda.
GABBARD: I have the right to share information—
HIMES: Information? You mean Russian disinformation. You sit in high-level intelligence briefings, then turn around and boost the same narratives Moscow is pushing. Should we just CC the Kremlin on your next meeting and cut out the middleman?
GABBARD: This is just an attempt to smear me—
HIMES: Smear you? You lied under oath in a Senate hearing yesterday, claiming you knew nothing about classified information, while sitting in Signal chats where war plans were discussed. You retweet Kremlin-backed sources, then act shocked when people question your loyalties.
GABBARD: I’m focused on national security—
HIMES: National security? While pushing Russian propaganda and pretending you’re clueless about intelligence leaks? If a Democrat had done half of this, you’d be screaming treason on national TV.
GABBARD: This is about free speech—
HIMES: Free speech? You’re the President’s top intelligence advisor, not some random guy on Twitter. Every word you amplify has consequences. And right now, you’re handing America’s enemies exactly what they want—straight from your "personal account."
https://x.com/Acyn/status/1904907517261705605
Perhaps if they are indicted and removed from their positions, even if don-old nominates the same ilk, the Senate will do a better job of screening.
The “Honorable” title hardly fits here. . .
All of them should be fired.
Have Trump’s firings of the 17 Inspector Generals been finalized? I’ve read that the courts have blocked some of the firings.
These treasonous jackasses see what tool 45 got away with after J6 and no accountability while the Supreme Court hangs in his back pocket, so why wouldn’t they continue to play the same game tool played with the courts??!! These people are treasonous authoritarians. They will continue to demolish this democracy & ultimately blocking any votes in elections that would remove them from office in 26 and beyond.
This has to be solved only 1 way as the system and current democrats continue to fail with limited or no voices, options or attempts. The GQP under tool 45 aren’t stopping and won’t stop until they control everything. Only 1 thing will solve this and that’s US citizens flooding the streets and I hate to say it but possibly another civil war on the people & organizations behind project 2025 to demolish them and the treasonous politicians implementing it. Jmo
Tristan, I am absolutely sure these people are destroying the evidence now. How do you think that will play out?
If they don't resign, can they be removed any other way? Does a criminal case against them disqualify them? (it didn't for the president)
Why was Vance on the group text but not Trump?