Overview

• White House advisers lost trust in Pete Hegseth’s handling of a Pentagon leak probe after the revelation that the NSA wiretap allegation was false.
• Tim Parlatore’s claim of a warrantless wiretap to identify senior aide Dan Caldwell was found to be unsubstantiated, undermining the inquiry’s credibility.
• The investigation, now more than five weeks old, has produced no new evidence or referral to the FBI and appears to have been skewed by internal rivalries.
• A feud between senior advisers Eric Geressy and Ricky Buria has intensified into a cold war, highlighting deeper instability within the defense secretary’s office.
• Despite growing turmoil and an impending Senate hearing next month, President Trump has reiterated his support for Hegseth’s leadership.