Classified Signalgate Leak ‘Exoneration’ Claim Gets GOP Rebukes
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Image credit X.com
Speaking to CNN, Republican Senator Thom Tillis says leaking mission details before a strike can never be justified as exoneration, warning it could have put lives at risk.
By TRH World Desk
New Delhi, December 4, 2025 —Republican Senator Thom Tillis has accused the Trump administration of a cover up in the Signalgate in which operational details were leaked before the military action. He firmly rejected claims of “total exoneration” in the latest controversy surrounding the handling of sensitive mission-related information.
Tillis warned that any leak ahead of a military strike is inherently dangerous and cannot be rationalised. In an interview with CNN, the North Carolina senator pushed back strongly against attempts to downplay the seriousness of the episode. “No one can rationalize that as an exoneration,” Tillis said.
The Senator stressed that “sensitive information had moved outside of the classified setting that it was trusted to be in.” Highlighting the strict protocols lawmakers themselves follow, Tillis explained that he does not take even a personal identification number or phone into a classified briefing.
“We obviously don’t have our phones. We don’t have our watches. I don’t even bring a PIN in to make notes to remove any doubt,” he said, stressing that such precautions are standard because of the gravity of handling classified material.
While acknowledging that the military operation in question ultimately succeeded, Tillis warned that the prior disclosure could have jeopardised the mission. “Thank God nothing bad happened. Thank God the great decision that the president made to make that strike was successful, but it could have put it at risk,” he said.
The senator also cautioned against setting a dangerous precedent. “Why would you send the signal that maybe this is OK? Maybe you could be exonerated by leaking information before a critical mission,” he asked, before urging that the focus shift to accountability and lessons learned rather than political spin.
“Just take the learning experience and move on,” Tillis added — making clear that moving on does not mean minimising the breach itself.
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