First on Fox: Painful internal disputes Pentagon The inner circle of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flocked to the public this week after he was relieved of his duties – now, with his career at equilibrium, the charges are flying.
Three top assistants Heggs The week was off and accompanied to the building due to an unauthorized leak investigation: Senior consultant Dan Caldwell, Vice President of Chief of Staff Darin Selnick, and Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg, Chief of Staff Colin Carroll.
Another media outlet, John Ullyot, split up with the Pentagon because he didn’t want to be the second appointment of the communications store.
But Fox News figures learned from several defense officials that the three employees were never told about what they were accused of leaking, had not read their rights, and were not guided to whom they could or could not speak to. They also did not ask them to flip their phones as part of the leak probe.
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The inner circle of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scattered among the public this week. (Franco Brana/AFP via Getty Images)
At least one former employee is consulting with legal counsel but has not been fired and everyone is awaiting the findings.
“It is considered a disciplined decision. This is considered a preliminary step in conducting an investigation, so if they think they are railings or hoses, they will have some legitimate litigation opportunities if there is a formal decision.”
“They are somewhat humiliated by the media. However, this happens every day in the federal government. Overall, what has happened so far is not necessarily considered discipline. It is considered only a step in a security protocol to suspend their authorization, suspend their access to emails, and a comprehensive, thorough independent investigation can be conducted.”
Officials denied that the three were asked for leave because of their foreign policy views and said they had no connection to their position in Iran and Israel – even if there were reports that President Donald Trump told Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu If Israel attacks Iran, the Pentagon will not intervene.
Pentagon official Dan Caldwell, leftist and Darin Selnick are investigating. (Related Veterans in the United States | Department of Defense)
Selnik focuses on action, administration and personnel affairs; Carroll focuses mainly on acquisitions. Caldwell mainly provides advice in its European portfolio.
But, according to a defense official who knew the situation, the three were united because Heggs’ chief of staff, Joe Kasper, had a “deep vendetta” against them. Kasper released a memorandum in late March directing the Pentagon to investigate unauthorized disclosures to journalists and conduct legacy detector tests if necessary.
The three men have attracted attention for Hegseth’s leadership over Kasper, who thinks they are trying to be fired, an official said.
The tensions boil down to “shouting the game at the front desk,” the official said.
Another Pentagon official insisted that the shooting was related to any other allegations besides an unauthorized leak investigation.
“It has nothing to do with interpersonal conflict,” the official said. “There is evidence of leaks. It’s about unauthorized disclosures until and include confidential information.”
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Colin Carroll, chief of staff of Deputy Secretary of Defense Stephen Feinberg, took a photo on February 7 during the engagement of the principal leader at the HM Smith camp in Hawaii. (Moses S. Lopez Franco/U.S. Marine Corps)
These three aides are civilian political appointments, meaning they can be fired regardless of the investigation. However, if they are found engaged in an unauthorized leak, they can be evacuated.
“There is little protection in terms of political appointments and professional civilians,” said Libby Jamison, an attorney specializing in military law. “For those appointed, extensive discretion can be placed on administrative leave or reassigned administrative leave.”
If employees are charged with leaks, the report is sent to the Defense Information System to seek security systems and then an independent review of their eligibility to access sensitive information.
“They may have the opportunity to try to maintain clearance rates and show that they have not violated any security licensing agreements when processing sensitive information,” Timmons said. “If it is found that they are breaching the rules and then violating the guidelines for personal misconduct and violating sensitive information. As a result, they may be criminally prosecuted and will certainly be terminated for employment and deprived of cleanup and revocation.”
Or, if independent officials cannot find enough evidence to associate them with the leak, they can return to their posts and keep permitted.
Meanwhile, Ullyot said he made it clear to Hegseth from the beginning that he was “not interested in anyone in public affairs”.
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Ullyot, who started the government as an agent for the Office of Public Affairs, led a memorandum that tilted the workspace for traditional media channels and reassigned it to conservative networks. Ullyot also served as former chairman of Mark Milley, former chairman of Chief of Staff Mark Milley, who said his “obesity” sets a bad example of the Pentagon’s fitness standards.
But with his interim chief role ending, Sean Parnell served as Pentagon chief spokesman Job, Ullyot said he and Hegseth “can’t reach an agreement on another fit for the Department of Defense. So I told him today that I’m leaving by the end of this week.”
Uliott said he remains one of Heggs’ “strongest supporters.”
