Gabbard, Ratcliffe deny classified info leaked in Yemen strike chat

During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard defended their use of a Signal group chat, which included sensitive details about U.S. strike plans against the Houthis in Yemen. Ratcliffe asserted that his communications in the chat were lawful and did not contain classified information, despite concerns raised by Senator Mark Warner regarding the implications of the leak to journalist Jeffrey Goldberg. Gabbard emphasized the distinction between inadvertent information sharing and malicious leaks, reiterating that no classified material had been shared. Democrats criticized the incident as indicative of reckless behavior that could lead to firings if committed by lower-ranking officials. Warner expressed disbelief that no one checked the participant list of the Signal chat, highlighting security vulnerabilities. The ongoing debate highlights the tension between maintaining operational security and transparency in government communications.