Protection secretary Pete Hegseth’s “Signalgate” has reared its head once more after a brand new bombshell report that he shared details of a U.S. military strike on Yemen in a second group chat.
This time, Hegseth is in sizzling water for reportedly including his spouse Jennifer Rauchet, brother Phil, and private lawyer Tim Parlatore, to a second Signal group the place particulars about upcoming army strikes aimed on the Houthis have been mentioned, in keeping with the New York Times.
Particulars, together with flight schedules for the warplanes concerned, have been shared by Hegseth within the group chat on March 15, the newspaper studies.
Whereas a U.S. official informed the Occasions that Hegseth didn’t share any categorized info within the second group chat, reportedly accessed by the protection secretary on his personal cellphone, he’s already dealing with calls to resign from the Democrats.
The Impartial has contacted the Pentagon for remark.
It isn’t clear why Hegseth’s spouse, who has additionally accompanied him on meetings with foreign military officials, would wish to find out about upcoming army strikes.
Couple met at Fox Information and wed at Trump golf membership
Hegseth typically refers to Rauchet as his “rock” and the pair typically gush about each other on their social media accounts.
“I’ve missed him, however nice to look at my husband visiting mates on the opposite aspect of the world,” Rauchet wrote about Hegseth in an Instagram publish three weeks in the past. “He loves this nation and all of the women and men who serve it all over the place.”
“Grateful to have my unimaginable spouse @jennycdot by my aspect for our first worldwide journey,” Hegseth wrote about his spouse forward of his first abroad journey since being sworn into workplace.
The couple met whereas they each labored at Fox Information the place he was a co-host of Fox & Buddies Weekend and he or she was working for the community as a producer.
They wed in 2019 at Trump Nationwide Golf Membership in Colts Neck, New Jersey. Earlier than their marriage ceremony, they have been each pictured on the membership carrying pink “Make Weddings Nice Once more” hats, resembling President Donald Trump’s signature MAGA baseball cap.
Rauchet is Hegseth’s third spouse and he has a 7-year-old daughter along with her. They each have three youngsters every from earlier relationships.
In a current appreciation publish, Hegseth additionally referred to Rauchet as his “valentine.”
Earlier than Rauchet, Hegseth cut up from his first spouse, Meredith Schwarz, in 2009, and divorced his second spouse, Samantha Deering, in 2017.
Hegseth introduced her to conferences with international army officers
Rauchet not too long ago raised eyebrows after it emerged she accompanied Hegseth at two meetings with foreign military officials the place delicate info was mentioned, the Wall Avenue Journal reported.
She was stated to have been current at a March 6 assembly on the Pentagon with Britain’s Secretary of Defence John Healy and Admiral Tony Radakin, head of the U.Okay. armed forces.
The assembly got here at an particularly delicate second — the day after the U.S. stated it had reduce off army intelligence sharing with Ukraine — and discussions included the rationale for the choice and future army collaboration.
The protection secretary’s spouse was additionally at a gathering in February on the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Group in Brussels, the Journal studies, citing two individuals who attended.
It isn’t recognized if her presence had an influence on what was mentioned at both assembly.
Spouse stood by him after sexual assault allegation
Rauchet stood by Hegseth forward of his turbulent Senate affirmation course of, the place he was grilled over allegations of a sexual assault courting again to 2017. He denies the allegation and insists the encounter was consensual.
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A girl filed a police report alleging that Hegseth sexually assaulted her throughout a Republican ladies’s convention in Monterey, California in 2017, the place he was the keynote speaker. The lady stated she believed that she had probably been drugged and raped.
Expenses have been by no means filed within the case. Hegseth paid a nondisclosure settlement with her.
“They received’t cease with Pete. It’s not him they’re after. It’s your values. We received’t again down,” Rauchet wrote in a social media publish in early December, when studies of Hegseth’s alleged previous have been dominating headlines.
“Now we have solely simply begun to battle,” Rauchet additionally wrote in a publish on the finish of November final yr after Trump named Hegseth as his alternative to guide the Pentagon.
Further reporting by Oliver O’Connell
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