2 Pentagon officers fired amid sweeping leak investigation
The week of turmoil affecting the Pentagon’s interior circle continued Friday, when two political appointees suspended earlier this week had been terminated, a number of officers advised CBS Information.
Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth’s chief of workers, Joe Kasper, ordered an investigation into unauthorized disclosures in March. His memo mentioned the investigation would search “a whole document” of leaks and use polygraph checks if obligatory.
The 2 now-fired officers are Hegseth’s senior advisor Dan Caldwell and deputy chief of workers Dan Selnick, the sources mentioned. Each had been placed on administrative go away earlier this week pending the leak investigation, CBS Information reported. Politico was first to report their termination.
A 3rd official, Colin Carroll, the chief of workers to the deputy secretary of protection, was additionally placed on administrative go away this week amid the investigation.
Kasper can also be below evaluation as a part of the probe, two sources mentioned.
A senior Protection official advised CBS Information on Saturday: “Right now, no last senior staffing modifications have been determined, and the secretary will make any future bulletins on his personal timetable.”
Officers have advised CBS Information there are discussions about suspending extra officers in what seems to be a widespread investigation into leaks to information retailers.
Kasper’s memo was launched the identical day that the Pentagon vehemently denied billionaire Elon Musk was coming to the Pentagon for a labeled briefing on conflict plans with China, however officers say the investigation is taking a look at greater than only one story.
