David French Calls on Pete Hegseth to Resign Over Shocking Security Breach: ‘Potentially Criminal Charges’

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David French, a columnist for The New York Times, called for the resignation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday after it was revealed that Hegseth participated in a group chat on a commercial server discussing sensitive military plans.

Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic reported earlier in the day that Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, and other members of President Donald Trump’s inner circle used the Signal app to discuss attack plans on Yemen earlier this month. Goldberg further reported that he was included in the chat by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and that Hegseth shared sensitive information that he had chosen not to disclose.

The revelation sent shockwaves through Washington, with many expressing their astonishment at the breach. French wrote an essay in the Times, calling for Hegseth’s resignation and accusing him of “potentially criminal charges.”

French stated, “I don’t know how Pete Hegseth can look service members in the eye. He’s just blown his credibility as a military leader.” He continued:

“This would be a stunning breach of security. I’m a former Army JAG officer (an Army lawyer). I’ve helped investigate numerous allegations of classified information spillages, and I’ve never even heard of anything this egregious — a secretary of defense intentionally using a civilian messaging app to share sensitive war plans without even apparently noticing a journalist was in the chat.”

“There is not an officer alive whose career would survive a security breach like that. It would normally result in instant consequences (relief from command, for example) followed by a comprehensive investigation and, potentially, criminal charges.”

French further opined that while it was premature to definitively state that Hegseth had broken the law, he appeared undeniably guilty of “incompetence.”

“Nothing destroys a leader’s credibility with soldiers more thoroughly than hypocrisy or double standards,” French wrote. “When leaders break the rules that they impose on soldiers, they break the bond of trust between soldiers and commanders. The best commanders I knew did not ask a soldier to comply with a rule that didn’t also apply to them. The best commanders led by example.”

French concluded:

“What example has Hegseth set? That he’s careless, and when you’re careless in the military, people can die. If he had any honor at all, he would resign.”

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