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demmiblue

(38,211 posts)
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 04:05 PM Apr 1

Waltz and staff used Gmail for government communications, officials say

Source: msn/WaPo

Members of President Donald Trump’s National Security Council, including White House national security adviser Michael Waltz, have conducted government business over personal Gmail accounts, according to documents reviewed by The Washington Post and interviews with three U.S. officials.

The use of Gmail, a far less secure method of communication than the encrypted messaging app Signal, is the latest example of questionable data security practices by top national security officials already under fire for the mistaken inclusion of a journalist in a group chat about high-level planning for military operations in Yemen.

A senior Waltz aide used the commercial email service for highly technical conversations with colleagues at other government agencies involving sensitive military positions and powerful weapons systems relating to an ongoing conflict, according to emails reviewed by The Post. While the NSC official used his Gmail account, his interagency colleagues used government-issued accounts, headers from the email correspondence show.

Waltz has had less sensitive, but potentially exploitable information sent to his Gmail, such as his schedule and other work documents, said officials, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe what they viewed as problematic handling of information. The officials said Waltz would sometimes copy and paste from his schedule into Signal to coordinate meetings and discussions.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/waltz-and-staff-used-gmail-for-government-communications-officials-say/ar-AA1C5Veh

32 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Waltz and staff used Gmail for government communications, officials say (Original Post) demmiblue Apr 1 OP
Is Waltz right in the head? Sneederbunk Apr 1 #1
All the circumstantial evidence says no. dchill Apr 1 #9
If he's a Trumper Grim Chieftain Apr 1 #22
I guess there is a difference between national security and information security. SomewhereInTheMiddle Apr 2 #30
Here's a gift link 😁 anyone who wants to read the article @ThatCat_TC https://wapo.st/42dVyTk riversedge Apr 1 #2
Buttery Males IronLionZion Apr 1 #3
I was thinking more like Dr. T Apr 1 #21
butterymails Bernardo de La Paz Apr 1 #4
Freaking Gmail? SergeStorms Apr 1 #5
Unless he skipped the mandatory security training IronLionZion Apr 1 #6
Oh no no no... jmowreader Apr 1 #7
I wouldn't be surprised if he refused to go to training... Shipwack Apr 1 #20
Hillary Clinton was excoriated for this. MLWR Apr 1 #8
For much, much less than this still-prayin4rain Apr 1 #19
Hillary's Emails are nothing compared with these clowns! Mountain Mule Apr 1 #24
These fascist assholes are going to get Americans killed. suegeo Apr 1 #10
Meidas Is On It As Well! MayReasonRule Apr 1 #11
I'm sure Russia is listening central scrutinizer Apr 1 #12
Lock Him Up? PhilG Apr 1 #13
BUT, HIS EMAILS! usonian Apr 1 #14
But her emails . . . . Scubamatt Apr 1 #15
omfg Skittles Apr 1 #16
But their emails... n/t TygrBright Apr 1 #17
I have to say this even though others already have. LOCK HIM UP! sueh Apr 1 #18
JFC! DingleBerryNW Apr 1 #23
This message was self-deleted by its author V850i Apr 1 #25
These people are traitors TRYING to enable others to spy/infiltrate. RockRaven Apr 1 #26
Should be a felony for conducting even a modicum of govt biz on non-govt email... Mark.b2 Apr 1 #27
Just like with Signalgate, EVERYONE who engaged in this needs to be fucking removed posthaste, without exception. Karasu Apr 1 #28
Is it possible that Waltz is just...not that bright? Prairie Gates Apr 1 #29
They thought gmail meant it was for G-Men. Innocent mistake. Hekate Apr 2 #31
Meanwhile in the Oval Office: Marcuse Apr 2 #32
30. I guess there is a difference between national security and information security.
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:35 AM
Apr 2

Idiot (him not you)!

riversedge

(74,929 posts)
2. Here's a gift link 😁 anyone who wants to read the article @ThatCat_TC https://wapo.st/42dVyTk
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 04:10 PM
Apr 1


Here's a gift link 😁 anyone who wants to read the article @ThatCat_TC

https://wapo.st/42dVyTk


Waltz and staff used Gmail for government communications, officials say

Trump’s national security adviser is trying to manage his way out of a crisis. But new revelations about his team’s operational security are piling up in the inbox.
Updated
April 1, 2025 at 3:44 p.m. EDT23 minutes ago
7 min
National security adviser Michael Waltz, center, explains how a reporter ended up on a group Signal chat among top officials discussing a U.S. air attack on Yemen’s Houthis. (John McDonnell/For The Washington Post)
By John Hudson

Members of President Donald Trump’s National Security Council, including White House national security adviser Michael Waltz, have conducted government business over personal Gmail accounts, according to documents reviewed by The Washington Post and interviews with three U.S. officials.


The use of Gmail, a far less secure method of communication than the encrypted messaging app Signal, is the latest example of questionable data security practices by top national security officials already under fire for the mistaken inclusion of a journalist in a group chat about high-level planning for military operations in Yemen.

A senior Waltz aide used the commercial email service for highly technical conversations with colleagues at other government agencies involving sensitive military positions and powerful weapons systems relating to an ongoing conflict, according to emails reviewed by The Post. While the NSC official used his Gmail account, his interagency colleagues used government-issued accounts, headers from the email correspondence show........................

IronLionZion

(48,383 posts)
3. Buttery Males
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 04:14 PM
Apr 1

This is the meritocracy of best and brightest super geniuses America has to offer. You can trust these guys with all your classified intel.

"We are currently clean on OPSEC,"

Dr. T

(180 posts)
21. I was thinking more like
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 06:25 PM
Apr 1

idiocracy, but meritocracy works. If only the stupid orange guy hadn't canceled DEI, we might not be where we are.

IronLionZion

(48,383 posts)
6. Unless he skipped the mandatory security training
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 04:31 PM
Apr 1

they might be trying to avoid official records of sketchy stuff.

jmowreader

(52,094 posts)
7. Oh no no no...
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 04:35 PM
Apr 1

They are trying to avoid official records of ANY stuff. They did the same shit in Trump’s first term.

Shipwack

(2,567 posts)
20. I wouldn't be surprised if he refused to go to training...
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 06:14 PM
Apr 1

Mandatory or not. He's just that entitled. "How many people can a security briefing kill? ZERO! Only bullets are useful in war! It's namby-pamby rules like cybersecurity (probably invented by a woke lesbian) that has sapped the vital essences of our men!"

[Sir, this is a Wendys]

Anyway, you're probably correct that it's just one more way they are trying to avoid accountability.

MLWR

(260 posts)
8. Hillary Clinton was excoriated for this.
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 04:41 PM
Apr 1

I guess IOKIYAR. What a bunch of colossal HYPOCRITES.

Mountain Mule

(1,108 posts)
24. Hillary's Emails are nothing compared with these clowns!
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 07:09 PM
Apr 1

Earlier today MSNBC showed clips of Hegseth giving Hillary hell, Also clips of Mike Waltz excoriating Hillary.

Needless to say, these clips will never see.the light of day when it comes to Fox.

suegeo

(2,984 posts)
10. These fascist assholes are going to get Americans killed.
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 04:44 PM
Apr 1

Do the American nazis know their job is to protect American lives? Civilians, military. Allies? Do we have allies anymore?

Also, the cost of equipment that could get destroyed. Millions gone because the clowns are fucking everything up? Shouldn't they be making things more efficient, less costly?

American lives and property are not a game, bruh.

usonian

(16,952 posts)
14. BUT, HIS EMAILS!
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 05:10 PM
Apr 1
No wonder he gets ads from Lockheed-Martin for F-35 fighter jets.

And devices to remove his head from his ass (or someone else's)

I WAS JOKING when I created this.



But not these.





Response to demmiblue (Original post)

Mark.b2

(545 posts)
27. Should be a felony for conducting even a modicum of govt biz on non-govt email...
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 10:19 PM
Apr 1

the assumption should be its primary purpose is to evade FOIA. How many times do these idiot politicians and bureaucrats have to be told this is wrong?

And Signal is 5x worse!

Karasu

(913 posts)
28. Just like with Signalgate, EVERYONE who engaged in this needs to be fucking removed posthaste, without exception.
Tue Apr 1, 2025, 10:19 PM
Apr 1

But we all know what this administration is going to do.

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