The Trump administration’s top intelligence officials are facing Congress for the start of back-to-back hearings to testify about the threats facing the United States and what the government is doing to counter them. The hearing on Tuesday comes a day after The Atlantic magazine reported that top national security officials for Trump, including his defense secretary, texted war plans for upcoming military strikes in Yemen to a group chat that included the magazine’s editor-in-chief in a secure messaging app.
WATCH: Trump intelligence officials testify in Senate hearing after war plans revealed to journalist in group chat
National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard would not say if she participated in Signal chats on her personal phone.
“I won’t speak to this because it’s under review by the National Security Council,” Gabbard said during Tuesday’s hearing.
Gabbard was one of several top U.S. security officials who participated in a Signal group chat that included a journalist, where information about an upcoming strike in Yemen was shared.
Gabbard was on an overseas trip when the group chat occurred, she said in response to a question from Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, who also asked if she was using a personal phone or a government phone.
Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, asked Ratcliffe and Gabbard whether the chat mentioned targets, weapons, specific units or timing of the strike on Yemen.
“I don’t remember a mention of specific targets,” Gabbard said. “I believe there was discussion around targets, in general.”
“I think that’s consistent with my recollection,” Ratcliffe said when Kelly asked him the same question.
Democrats have asked for an investigation into the leak, which Ratcliffe and Gabbard have said contained no classified information.
