VA Secretary Doug Collins Deflects Signal Scandal Questions in Heated CNN Interview

Collins criticized CNN over a defamation lawsuit settlement with a Navy veteran while refusing to address allegations of unclassified chats on national security matters.

Doug Collins, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, deflected repeated questions during a CNN interview about Trump officials allegedly discussing sensitive national security topics on Signal.
Collins criticized CNN for settling a $5 million defamation lawsuit with Navy veteran Zachary Young, accusing the network of being hostile to veterans.
The defamation case stemmed from a 2021 CNN segment about the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, which a court ruled defamed Young.
Collins avoided addressing whether it was common for Trump cabinet members to use Signal for official communications, calling the scandal a 'non-scandal.'
National security experts have expressed alarm over the allegations that U.S. military operations in Yemen were discussed in an unclassified group chat, raising significant concerns about communication practices.