Third Pentagon senior official removed over leaks - Politico
Photo: Pentagon investigates leaks of secrets (Touch Of Light)
The Pentagon on Wednesday suspended a third high-ranking official as part of a major investigation into leaks of classified information. The secrets include an alleged briefing by businessman Elon Musk on China and the suspension of intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Politico reports.
A Defense Department official and another source with knowledge of the matter told Politico that Colin Carroll, chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Steven Feinberg, was suspended on April 16.
Carroll was removed from his duties the day after two other senior officials were also placed on leave while the investigation into possible leaks of classified information was underway.
Among the leaks under investigation are operational military plans for the Panama Canal, the deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the Red Sea, Elon Musk's controversial visit to the Pentagon to discuss China, and the suspension of intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Politico has sought comment from Carroll and the Defense Department on this information, but neither has responded to requests.
Tension at Pentagon
The agency adds that the other 2 senior defense officials caught up in the leak scandal are Dan Caldwell and Darin Selnick.
Dan Caldwell, a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Darin Selnick, the deputy chief of staff of the Defense Department, were escorted out of the Pentagon headquarters under guard. Their access to the building was temporarily blocked until the investigation is completed. Both had previously worked for the organization Concerned Veterans for America, which was headed by Hegseth.
These events have added fuel to the fire of Democratic demands for Hegseth's resignation, the agency notes. Many called for his resignation after he shared confidential details of US strikes on Yemen in a Signal chat room.
Pentagon investigation
At the end of March, the Pentagon initiated a polygraph investigation to detect data leaks. This followed Elon Musk's call for officials to be punished for spreading "false information" about his ties to the military and an alleged briefing in the defense department on China.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's chief of staff, Joe Kasper, said the investigation would culminate in a report to the Secretary of Defense that will provide a complete record of unauthorized disclosures in the Department of Defense and recommendations for improving such efforts.
