The proposed penalties include a $250,000 fine and up to five years of prison.
Representative Ritchie Torres of New York proposed legislation to make the use of outside messaging platforms illegal for federal officials “to discuss classified information.”
The legislation called the Houthi PC Small Group Act is named after the Signal group chat which the defense secretary and a number of high-ranking officials were using to discuss upcoming U.S. airstrikes against Yemen. The name is also an acronym for “Homeland Operations and Unilateral Tactics Halting Incursions: Preventing Coordinated Subversion, Military Aggression and Lawless Levies Granting Rogue Operatives Unchecked Power.” Intelligence officials from the president’s administration later confirmed to the Senate that no classified or top secret plans were discussed in the chat.
The legislation proposes penalties of $250,000 and up to five years of prison for each violation, strengthening existing laws that seek to preserve sensitive government information.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for administration officials as they communicate about military operations and plans.
- For members of Congress as they seek to ensure classified information is appropriately secured.
Sources: Reuters, Axios
