WASHINGTON — Former Trump national security adviser Michael Waltz told senators during his confirmation hearing for U.N. ambassador that “no classified” information was discussed in a controversial Signal chat he started for top U.S. officials.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared the details of a strike on Houthi militants in Yemen before the operation had happened in a conversation on the commercially available encrypted app. Unbeknownst to him, Waltz accidentally added a journalist to the chain. The scandal prompted multiple internal investigations.
Waltz said in testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 15 that Biden-era guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, advised senior officials to use the platform for personal and professional communication.
“The use of Signal was not only authorized…it’s still authorized and highly recommended,” Waltz said.
In the hearing, Waltz said a White House investigation ended with no disciplinary action. The former Trump adviser said his understanding was that a Defense Department investigation had not yet concluded.
“There was no classified information exchanged,” Waltz said in response to questions from Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware.
Waltz appeared before the panel in his capacity as President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The confirmation hearing gave critics of the administration an opening to ask him about the text chain, in which Trump administration officials say classified information was not shared.
Confirmation hearing: Former Trump adviser Mike Waltz faces ‘Signalgate’ grilling in Senate hearing for UN post
Waltz is a former Green Beret and Florida representative, who resigned from Congress to join the Trump administration. He served as national security adviser for roughly three months. Trump reshuffled his team and named Secretary of State Marco Rubio acting national security adviser on May 1.
The former Trump aide was expected to face tough questioning about his use of Signal throughout his time as national security adviser. Senior administration officials’ use of the commercially available encrypted messaging app came to light after Waltz inadvertently invited the editor of The Atlantic to a sensitive group chat.
Waltz took “full responsibility” for the episode. Trump later fired scores of staff members and restructured the National Security Council.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-Trump adviser Michael Waltz defends Signal use in Senate hearing
