Demands the President and Secretary of State to submit all records pertaining to the Houthi strikes in Yemen and the disclosure of confidential information to a journalist via Signal to the House of Representatives.
Gregory Meeks
Representative
NY-5
This bill demands the President and Secretary of State to submit all records related to the strikes on the Houthis in Yemen and the disclosure of confidential information to a journalist. It seeks all documents, communications, and transcripts created after January 20, 2025, pertaining to the strikes, coordination with allies, legal justifications, and the use of Signal for war planning. The request includes materials related to the inclusion of journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a Signal chat discussing confidential war plans and any resulting reforms or investigations. The documents must be provided to the House of Representatives within 14 days.
House Resolution Demands White House Records on Houthi Strikes and Classified Signal Chat Leak Within 14 Days
The House of Representatives is formally requesting a deep dive into recent executive branch actions, specifically demanding records related to military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen and a reported leak of classified information to a journalist via the Signal app. This 'resolution of inquiry' directs both the President and the Secretary of State to hand over a wide range of documents and communications dated on or after January 20, 2025, concerning these events, within 14 days of the resolution's adoption.
What's on the Document Wishlist?
This resolution isn't asking nicely; it's a formal demand for potentially highly sensitive materials. The request covers a broad spectrum: the full transcript of the Signal group chat reportedly involving journalist Jeffrey Goldberg (including messages sent before and after his apparent inclusion), detailed information on the Houthi strikes themselves, records of coordination with partners and allies, the legal justifications used for the strikes, and any internal reviews or consequences stemming from the Goldberg incident. Crucially, it also seeks information on any other group chats or transcripts used for war planning or discussing sensitive national security matters, suggesting a wider concern about communication security practices.
Transparency vs. Tight Lips: The Core Tension
At its heart, this resolution pushes for government accountability on two fronts: the decision-making behind military action and the handling of classified information. It directly questions how potentially sensitive details about war plans might have been discussed in a commercial messaging app like Signal, especially with a journalist present. The focus on internal fallout and potential process reforms indicates a desire to understand if and how security protocols failed and what's being done about it. While the aim is transparency, compelling the release of such records inherently involves navigating the tricky balance between congressional oversight and protecting sensitive national security information.
Reading Between the Lines: Oversight and Communication Security
This move underscores Congress's oversight function, particularly when potential breaches of national security conduct occur. The demand for information on process reforms suggests lawmakers want concrete answers on how the executive branch plans to prevent similar incidents. The specific mention of Signal and other chat applications also brings the broader issue of using commercial, potentially less secure, technology for sensitive government communications into sharp focus. While external factors often play a role in shaping legislative priorities – and the complex geopolitics surrounding Yemen are no exception – the text of this resolution centers firmly on scrutinizing the executive branch's documented actions, communication practices, and adherence to security protocols in these specific instances.