WSJ: US Defense Secretary Hegseth under scrutiny after wife attends sensitive military meetings

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing growing scrutiny over his handling of sensitive military information, following reports that his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, attended multiple high-level meetings where classified discussions took place.

These meetings involved foreign military officials and covered crucial topics, including military intelligence sharing and ongoing support for Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

According to multiple sources familiar with the discussions, Jennifer Hegseth, a former Fox News producer, was present at two key meetings. The first took place on March 6 at the Pentagon, where Hegseth met with U.K. Secretary of Defense John Healey. The meeting was set against a particularly sensitive backdrop, one day after the U.S. had announced it was cutting off military intelligence sharing with Ukraine. During this session, U.S. officials, including Adm. Tony Radakin, head of the U.K.’s armed forces, discussed the rationale behind that decision, as well as future military collaboration between the two countries.

While it is within a secretary’s discretion to invite guests to meetings with visiting counterparts, attendees at such discussions are typically expected to have security clearances due to the sensitive nature of the topics discussed. Defense officials noted that these meetings usually have tight attendee lists, with security measures in place to prevent uninvited participants. It remains unclear whether Jennifer Hegseth had the appropriate security clearance, as the Pentagon declined to comment on her status.

In addition to the Pentagon meeting, Jennifer Hegseth also attended a session at NATO headquarters in Brussels last month. This meeting, held during a February conference of NATO defense ministers, was focused on discussions surrounding military support for Ukraine. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a forum of approximately 50 nations coordinated by the U.S., frequently discusses confidential matters, such as contributions to Ukraine that participating nations prefer to keep private. Sources indicated that some foreign officials were unsure of Jennifer Hegseth’s identity, while others were surprised by her presence but did not object to her participation.

This revelation comes amid concerns raised by members of Congress regarding Hegseth’s handling of classified information. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed alarm over reports that Hegseth and other officials used a Signal messaging group, which included a journalist, to discuss and plan a military strike on Houthi militants in Yemen. The involvement of a journalist in these discussions has further fueled questions about the Secretary’s management of sensitive security matters.

By Vugar Khalilov