US defence division staff may face lie detector checks because the Pentagon investigates alleged leaks of nationwide safety data.
The division’s intelligence and legislation enforcement arms are finishing up the inquiry, which is the most recent by Donald Trump‘s administration.
In a memo despatched late on Friday, defence secretary Pete Hegseth’s chief of employees referred to as for an investigation into “unauthorised disclosures of nationwide safety data” that would embrace polygraph checks.
Particulars of the alleged leaks weren’t included within the memo.
Earlier within the day, Mr Trump was compelled to reject studies that Elon Musk could be briefed on US army plans for preventing a hypothetical battle with China.
Mr Musk, who’s head of the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) advisory group, visited the Pentagon on Friday to speak about “efficiencies” and “improvements”, Mr Hegseth mentioned.
Forward of the assembly, the New York Instances reported the tech billionaire could be briefed on plans for the way the US would plan for a possible battle with China – however this was denied by each Mr Musk and the president.
Mr Musk referred to as the report “pure propaganda” and urged authorized motion in opposition to anybody leaking data.
The memo calling for an investigation mentioned if it revealed data “figuring out a celebration liable for an unauthorised disclosure”, that data could possibly be used to hunt felony prosecution.
Elon Musk and US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on the Pentagon. Pic: Reuters
Talking on the White Home after the assembly, Mr Trump mentioned he didn’t wish to present US plans for a possible battle with China to anyone and hinted at Mr Musk’s potential battle of curiosity.
“Elon has companies in China, and he could be inclined, maybe, to that,” the president mentioned.
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A New York Instances spokesperson mentioned leak investigations are “meant to sit back communications between journalists and their sources and undermine the power of a free press to convey out very important data which will in any other case be hidden”.
Earlier this month, homeland safety secretary Kristi Noem pledged to step up lie detector checks on staff in an effort to establish those that could also be leaking details about operations to the media.
Whereas polygraph exams are usually not admissible in courtroom proceedings, they’re incessantly utilized by federal legislation enforcement businesses and for nationwide safety clearances.
