Leak Investigation Evidence to be Sent to DOJ for Potential Charges – One America News Network
OAN Staff James Meyers
3:37 PM – Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed strong disapproval of what he referred to as the “hoax press,” while also attributing responsibility to his recently relieved aides, whom he accused of spreading misinformation related to recent controversies that have arisen during his time in office.
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“I don’t tolerate leakers. I don’t have time for the hoax press that promotes outdated stories from disgruntled employees,” he remarked regarding the dismissed aides.
On Tuesday morning, Hegseth declared in a Fox News interview that anyone proven to have leaked sensitive U.S. military strategies will be referred to the Justice Department (DOJ) for legal action.
“As soon as sufficient evidence is collected — and this has transpired quickly — it will be passed to the DOJ, and those responsible will be prosecuted if warranted,” Hegseth told “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade.
“We believe, based on our findings, that it may not be a good day for several individuals involved, given the outcomes of the investigation,” he added.
“The leakers are aware of their identity, and in due time, the truth will emerge, and we stand resolute in that regard.”
Hegseth further mentioned in the interview that the investigation aims to determine who leaked operational plans regarding the Panama Canal and shared details from a private briefing with Tesla’s Elon Musk.
Moreover, he confirmed that several Defense Department officials, including senior adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, the chief of staff for the deputy defense secretary Colin Carroll, and primary spokesman John Ullyot, have all been dismissed due to the initial findings of the probe.
“We found sufficient evidence,” he stated, before critiquing Ullyot, who had co-authored an op-ed in Politico urging President Donald Trump to terminate Hegseth: “Anyone familiar with John understands why he was let go.”
“He contributed positively at first, and then was asked to move on,” Hegseth explained. “We acted in good faith toward him. He’s interpreting it differently. It’s unfortunate. It’s just politics.”
“I don’t tolerate leakers. I don’t have time for the hoax press that promotes outdated stories from disgruntled employees,” he reiterated regarding the removed staff. “Our focus should be on the significant progress against the Houthis, our efforts against China, and the establishment of new defense initiatives at the southern border.”
Caldwell has since denied making any unauthorized disclosures of classified military information during a conversation with Tucker Carlson on Monday.
“If I had truly engaged in any of the actions that anonymous sources in the Pentagon claim, I’d already be in handcuffs,” he asserted.
Hegseth also stressed that discussions surrounding military strategies do not occur on unclassified networks. However, rumors have emerged regarding his involvement in another leaked private chat on the Signal app, allegedly including family members.
“I’ve said repeatedly, ‘No one is sharing war plans via text,’” he told Kilmeade. “What was communicated over Signal, regardless of how it’s interpreted, involved informal, unclassified coordination, primarily for media relations, and other matters.”
“The individuals who have leaked and been removed from the department are now attempting to undermine the president’s agenda and our initiatives,” Hegseth added. “This is regrettable; it is not indicative of how we function.”
The latest revelations have been directed to the Pentagon’s inspector general as part of a comprehensive assessment of Hegseth’s “conduct.”
According to The New York Times, “nearly identical attack plans,” inclusive of flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis, were forwarded to the secretary’s wife, Jennifer Rauchet, and his brother, Phil Hegseth, a senior advisor within the Pentagon.
Additionally, on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed an NPR report indicating that Trump was scouting for potential successors for Hegseth, labeling it as “total FAKE NEWS stemming from one anonymous source who clearly lacks insight into the situation.”
“As the President stated this morning, he is firmly behind @SecDef,” Leavitt remarked in a statement on X.
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