Rep. McCollum: Each Member of Trump Administration National Security Team Must be Accountable for Breaking the Law & Trust of the American People
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D, MN-04), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement on Friday:
“Each of the 18 senior Trump administration national security officials on the ‘Signal Houthi PC’ group chat—including the Vice President, Secretary of Defense, Secretary of State, Treasury Secretary, CIA Director, Director of National Intelligence, National Security Advisor, and White House Chief of Staff—must be held accountable. Each of them failed in their sworn responsibility to ensure that a classified discussion take place on a secure channel. Each of them failed to intervene when this information was freely shared on an open commercial messaging app. Each of their actions fundamentally compromised an impending U.S. military operation and put the lives of American servicemembers at great risk.
“President Trump’s national security team clearly broke laws designed to protect the American people, including mishandling classified information and failing to preserve federal government records in accordance with the Presidential Records Act. The Trump Administration has broken the trust of the American people, especially the dedicated women and men of the Intelligence Community and those who serve in the military who were put in harm’s way.
“Several of these officials served in the military, including Vice President Vance, Secretary Hegseth, Director Gabbard, and Mr. Waltz. If any of them had released classified information while wearing the uniform, accountability would have been swift and severe. Yet as members of the Trump Administration, they’ve faced no accountability whatsoever.
“In the United States of America, it is unacceptable to have one set of a laws for political appointees of President Trump and another set of laws for everyone else. Congress must immediately issue subpoenas, hold hearings, and fully investigate this reckless and illegal conduct that put American lives at risk.”
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