Rep. McCollum Calls for Resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement after news reports of another improper Signal group chat involving Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth:

"Starting with the moment Pete Hegseth was nominated to lead the Department of Defense, my fellow Democrats and I have warned the American people that Mr. Hegseth was grossly unqualified to serve as Secretary of Defense," said Congresswoman McCollum. "Now in office, it has become clear that not only is Secretary Hegseth completely incompetent, but his actions are jeopardizing the national security of the United States.

"Secretary Hegseth has demonstrated a clear pattern of repeatedly mishandling classified information. In March, he disclosed detailed information in a Signal chat about impending U.S. military operations in Yemen which was clearly classified. Now it has come to light that Secretary Hegseth initiated his own Signal chat on his personal phone where he shared classified information on U.S. military operations with personnel not authorized to access that information. This included the Secretary's family. This type of conduct by a Secretary of Defense is completely unprecedented, unbecoming of the office, and dangerous. If anyone else in the military did what Secretary Hegseth did, they would be fired immediately, could be dishonorably discharged, and certainly would lose their security clearance.

"Republicans in Congress are failing to do their job to hold oversight hearings into the Secretary's conduct and the conduct of President Trump's national security team. They must do so immediately - our national security is at risk.

"The time has come for Secretary Hegseth to resign."

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