Bacon dismisses idea report exonerates Hegseth as 'total baloney'

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) rejected claims on Thursday that a Department of Defense (DOD) watchdog report cleared Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding his use of an encrypted messaging app to communicate details of a planned strike against Houthis in Yemen.

"No, that is complete nonsense," Bacon stated in a CNN interview. "I have stronger words for it, but you can't say them on TV. I read the report, and it clearly shows improper actions. The report confirms the secretary shared sensitive information that should have been classified."

The Office of Inspector General's investigation concluded that Hegseth endangered troop safety and violated department rules by using the Signal app. Bacon emphasized that Hegseth's personal, unclassified phone was a highly vulnerable target.

"If this information had reached Yemen, it could have jeopardized the mission and put pilots at risk," Bacon said. "The report was clear on this point, yet instead of taking responsibility and acknowledging mistakes, the response suggested, 'Were completely exonerated.' Thats not how a leader behaves."

Bacon continued, "A leader admits errors, accepts responsibility, learns from them, and ensures they are not repeated. The handling of this situation undermines Hegseth's credibility."

The report noted that Hegseth "transmitted nonpublic DoD information, including the number of aircraft and strike timing over hostile territory, on an unapproved and insecure network two to four hours prior to the strikes."

Accidentally, The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was included in the Signal group and later shared some details. Hegseth, Vice President Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were also members of this group.

"Conducting official business on a personal device and sharing sensitive DoD information via Signal risks compromising classified information and could endanger personnel and mission goals," the report stated.

Hegseth also faces scrutiny over strikes on a suspected drug-smuggling boat on September 2, where follow-up attacks killed survivors clinging to the wreckage. Hegseth said he did not stay to oversee the second strike due to another meeting.

Bacon expressed concern over the event but clarified that Hegseth did not authorize killing all survivors, despite reports suggesting otherwise. "Two people were trying to survive, and rules of war do not allow targeting survivors," Bacon explained.

The incidents led Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) to file articles of impeachment against Hegseth. A number of lawmakers, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), contend that the actions on September 2 could amount to a war crime.

Analysis: Risks and Accountability in Hegseth’s Use of Encrypted Messaging

The recent Department of Defense watchdog report and subsequent statements by Rep. Don Bacon underscore a significant concern regarding operational security and leadership accountability. According to Bacon, the report does not exonerate Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; instead, it highlights that he shared sensitive information over an insecure, personal device, endangering troop safety and violating DOD protocols.

Hegseth’s use of the Signal app for transmitting details of planned strikes, including aircraft numbers and timing, exposes critical operational data to potential interception. The inclusion of unintended recipients, such as The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg, further illustrates the risks of informal communication channels for classified information. Bacon emphasized that this approach undermines credibility and fails to meet the standard expected of military leaders.

In addition to the messaging issue, scrutiny remains over the September 2 strikes on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel, where follow-up attacks killed survivors. While Bacon clarified that Hegseth did not authorize targeting survivors, the incident prompted legal and political scrutiny, including articles of impeachment filed by Rep. Shri Thanedar and concerns from other lawmakers about potential violations of the laws of war.

The report and subsequent debate highlight broader challenges in ensuring both operational security and accountability in high-level military decision-making. Leadership entails not only strategy execution but also adherence to communication protocols and responsibility for outcomes.

Sources:

• Bacon calls ‘total baloney’ on idea report exonerates Hegseth