After a dressing-down from his boss Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth gets entangled in another Signal chat controversy; here's what it is

Just days after US president Donald Trump had a talk with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about his controversy over using the messaging platform Signal to send messages about the government's military actions to his family, he is once again under fire, this time for his participation in yet another Signal chat group with other former Fox News producers, as per a report.

Another Signal Chat Raises Concerns at the Pentagon

This third Signal chat involved not only Hegseth's wife, who was also a former Fox News producer Jennifer Rauchet, but also his senior adviser and spokesperson Sean Parnell, and Tami Radabaugh, who was a former Fox executive producer and close friend of Rauchet's, and now works as Hegseth's deputy assistant for public affairs at the Department of Defense, according to The Washington Post.

While, it is unclear what was precisely being discussed in this third group and it is not known if that chat remains active or not, as per Washington Post.

Tami Radabaugh's Quiet Role Comes Into Focus

However, the inclusion of Radabaugh is concerning for the Pentagon, which has warned that Signal is susceptible to hacking and should not be used even to discuss matters that are not classified, reported DailyBeast.

Even though Radabaugh handles public affairs for Hegseth, her name remained out of view when his initial string of Signal chaos started, as per the report.

How Much Influence Does Pete Hegseth's Wife Have Behind the Scenes?

Meanwhile, Hegseth's wife Rauchet has a major influence in shaping her husband’s tenure as defense secretary, despite not having an official role at the department, according to DailyBeast. She weighs in on what media hits he should do, and has even asked DOD staff to compile Hegseth's initial remarks when he started his role, to reporters and share them on social, reported DailyBeast.

A source told the Washington Post, “We would always hear that she was saying what kind of videos he should be doing, and what kind of statements he should be doing, and how the press should be handled,” as quoted in the report.

FAQs

Is Pete Hegseth in trouble again?
Yes, just days after a warning from Trump, he's tied to another Signal chat involving former Fox colleagues.

Who was in this third chat?
Hegseth, his wife Jennifer Rauchet, adviser Sean Parnell, and former Fox producer Tami Radabaugh.