White House Intervenes in Pentagon Leak Probe

The White House has intervened to stop Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from using polygraph tests on Pentagon staff suspected of leaking sensitive information. This decision follows a report indicating that Patrick Weaver, an adviser to Hegseth, was informed he might need to undergo a polygraph test. The Washington Post reported that this prompted a direct call to Hegseth, urging him to abandon the use of lie detector tests.

Background of the Investigation

The investigation into leaks within the Department of Defense began in late March, initiated by a memo from Joe Kasper, who was then Hegseth’s chief of staff. The memo highlighted concerns over unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Kasper emphasized the need for an immediate and thorough investigation, stating that polygraphs would be used in accordance with applicable laws and policies.

Controversy and Reactions

Weaver, who has held positions on the White House’s National Security Council and in the Department of Homeland Security during President Donald Trump’s first administration, expressed his disapproval of the potential use of polygraphs. The White House and Pentagon have not yet responded to requests for comments from Fox News regarding this development.

Previous Scandals and Implications

This revelation adds to the ongoing controversies at the Pentagon, which earlier faced the ‘Signalgate’ scandal. This incident involved leaked discussions about military actions between Hegseth and top Trump officials on an encrypted app. Then-national security advisor Michael Waltz took full responsibility for mistakenly including a journalist in these discussions. Despite these challenges, former President Trump continues to support Hegseth publicly.