A top aide to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Dan Caldwell, was placed on leave from the Pentagon on Tuesday after being identified in an investigation into a leak at the Defense Department, U.S. officials told Reuters, quoted by NOVA.
Caldwell was placed on administrative leave for “unauthorized disclosure“ of information, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. He added: “The investigation is ongoing”, without providing details about the nature of the alleged leak, including whether it was provided to a journalist or a third party.
Меморандум от 21 март, подписан от началника на кабинета на Хегсет, Джо Каспър, изисква разследване на „скорошни неоторизирани изтичания на информация за националната сигурност, включваща чувствителни комуникации“. Бележката на Каспър оставя отворена възможността за подлагане на заподозрените на полиграф, въпреки че не е ясно дали Колдуел е бил подложен на такъв.
Although Caldwell is not as well-known as other senior Pentagon officials, he plays a key role as an advisor to Hegseth. His importance was underscored in a leaked Signal chat, revealed by The Atlantic last month, in which Hegseth identified Caldwell as the National Security Council’s top contact as it prepared to launch strikes against the Houthis in Yemen.