Gabbard backs WH statement, her earlier assessment, no classified info leaked in Signal chat

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday backed a White House statement and her earlier assessment that no classified information was released on a recent group chat on Signal in which top administration officials discussed a Houthi airstrike while a journalist was mistakenly added to the discussion. 

"The conversation was candid and sensitive, but as the president [and] national security adviser stated, no classified information was shared. There were no sources, methods, locations or war plans that were shared," Gabbard said at a House Intelligence Committee hearing. "This was a standard update to the national security cabinet that was provided alongside updates that were given to foreign partners in the region."

Gabbard also backed Trump's statement Tuesday, one day after Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg disclosed his presence on that chat, that him having been included was a "mistake." 

"The President and national security [Advisor Mike] Waltz held a press conference yesterday with a clear message," she said. "It was a mistake that a reporter was inadvertently added to a signal chat with high-level national security principles having a policy discussion about imminent strikes against the Houthis and the effects of the strike."

"The National Security Advisor has taken full responsibility for this, and the National Security Council is conducting an in depth review, along with tech technical experts working to determine how this reporter was inadvertently added to this chat," Gabbard said. 

She also told to committee members that investigations into how a member of the press came to be included in the signal group are being conducted.

Signal texts between high-ranking members of Trump's cabinet were leaked by Goldberg in a story Monday. 

Goldberg said Waltz accidentally included him in a March 15 group text about plans for airstrikes on Houthi targets 2 hours before they occurred.  

Waltz on the Fox News Channel on Tuesday night took full responsibility for the matter.