Defense department shake-up: Caldwell and Selnick suspended
Dan Caldwell, one of the closest collaborators of U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, has been relieved of his duties and placed on leave. This decision resulted from an investigation into media information leaks.
What do you need to know?
- Dan Caldwell, an advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, has been relieved of his duties and placed on administrative leave due to suspicions of leaking information to the media.
- The investigation was initiated by Joe Kasper, the chief of staff of the Department of Defense, following unauthorized disclosures of national security information.
- Darin Selnick, deputy chief of staff at the Pentagon, was also suspended in connection with these events.
Why was Dan Caldwell relieved?
Dan Caldwell, one of the closest collaborators of U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, has been relieved of his duties and placed on administrative leave. This decision resulted from an investigation into information leaks to the media concerning the Department of Defense. The investigation is ongoing, and details remain classified.
What are the consequences of the information leak?
The investigation was initiated by Joe Kasper, the chief of staff of the Department of Defense, who, in an official memo dated March 21, pointed out the recent "unauthorized disclosure" of national security information. The memo also mentioned the potential use of polygraph tests during the investigation. However, it is not clear whether Dan Caldwell underwent such a test.
What's next for the investigation?
Joe Kasper expects to be promptly informed of the investigative results that will help identify the individual responsible for the information leak. If guilt is confirmed, the matter will be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies to initiate criminal proceedings. The decision to place Caldwell on administrative leave is not related to the wave of dismissals in the administration.
