House Hearing Erupts Over Questions on Hegseth's Drinking and Signal Security Breach

Democratic lawmakers press for accountability after a Signal chat leak involving classified military plans, while intelligence leaders defend Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Rep. Jimmy Gomez questioned whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had been drinking prior to a Signal chat leak discussing military operations in Yemen.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe and DNI Tulsi Gabbard strongly defended Hegseth, calling inquiries into his personal habits inappropriate and irrelevant to national security discussions.
The Signal chat, which mistakenly included a journalist, exposed vulnerabilities in communication protocols and has become a major controversy for the Trump administration.
Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, emphasized the importance of oversight and accountability, criticizing intelligence leaders for dismissing concerns about the breach.
The controversy highlights broader partisan divisions, with Democrats focusing on Hegseth's conduct and Republicans urging attention to more pressing national security threats.