New US Security Breakdown: Trump Consultant’s Private Email Use
- WASHINGTON (AP) — A security breach is alleged within the White House as Mike Waltz, a consultant to former President Donald Trump, faces scrutiny for reportedly using a...
- The allegations surfaced days after reports that Waltz, a senior government representative, utilized Signal to discuss strategies regarding the Huthi militia in Yemen.
- According to a report in The Washington Post, a high-ranking staffer within the National Security Council (NSC) used a commercial email service to communicate with colleagues in other...
Trump Consultant Waltz Accused of Using Private Email for Sensitive Data
WASHINGTON (AP) — A security breach is alleged within the White House as Mike Waltz, a consultant to former President Donald Trump, faces scrutiny for reportedly using a private Gmail account for official communication. This follows earlier concerns about Waltz’s use of the encrypted messaging app Signal.
The allegations surfaced days after reports that Waltz, a senior government representative, utilized Signal to discuss strategies regarding the Huthi militia in Yemen. Now, sources claim waltz and a staff member also used Gmail to exchange potentially sensitive information.
Report Claims Sensitive Information Shared Via Gmail
According to a report in The Washington Post, a high-ranking staffer within the National Security Council (NSC) used a commercial email service to communicate with colleagues in other government agencies. The emails reportedly concerned military positions and weapons systems related to an ongoing conflict.
While Waltz is said to have sent fewer emails containing classified information via his personal Gmail account, the report suggests he used it for communications beyond scheduling or routine work documents.
Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, disputed the claims. Hughes told The Washington Post that there was no evidence Waltz used his personal email for inappropriate purposes.
Concerns Over Gmail Security
Unnamed sources within the department told The Washington Post that Gmail is significantly less secure than encrypted apps like Signal, making it vulnerable to interception. The Signal incident involved Waltz accidentally including a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, in a secret group chat about the Yemen attack. Goldberg later made the chats public.
Trump previously defended members of the Signal chat group, dismissing the incident as a ”witch hunt.” However, The New York Times reported that Trump may not have been as supportive of Waltz behind closed doors, allegedly asking consultants, “Should I fire him?”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.