U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second left, meets with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad Al-Aiban, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, third left, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, left, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, second right, at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday Feb. 18, 2025. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)
What Is the Espionage Act? War Chat Blunder Could Land Officials in Jail
A scandal is shaking Washington—and fast. Now, everyone wants to know: What is the Espionage Act? And could it really put top officials behind bars?
It all began when Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security advisor, made a critical mistake. He added The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat meant for top military insiders.
Even worse, the chat wasn’t just routine. It included real-time planning for U.S. airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Among those in the group were big names like Pete Hegseth, JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA chief John Ratcliffe.
Insiders say Donald Trump is beyond furious. Still, he hasn’t fired anyone. Not yet.
Instead, he’s watching things unfold, while Waltz earns a cruel new nickname among Trump’s closest aides: “f**ing idiot.”*
No one truly understands why Goldberg was added. Perhaps it was a name mix-up. Maybe pure carelessness. Either way, the fallout is real—and growing by the hour.
The Espionage Act was passed in 1917. Initially, it aimed to stop spies and protect military secrets during wartime.
However, it has evolved. Today, it also punishes the mishandling of classified or sensitive information—especially if national security is at risk.
Over the years, it’s been used in huge cases. Think Chelsea Manning. Julian Assange. Edward Snowden.
Penalties are severe. Jail time is likely. In rare cases, even the death penalty applies.
Goldberg didn’t just read the chat—he reported on it. He revealed that members shared operational details about the Yemen attack.
There were messages with strike times, weapon types, and celebration emojis once the mission was completed.
That kind of data isn’t supposed to leave secure government facilities. It’s meant to stay inside SCIFs, which are special rooms designed to block outside access and eavesdropping.
Instead, they used Signal—a commercial app.
Because of that, some legal experts are now calling for prosecution. They argue that even if the leak was accidental, it still falls under the Espionage Act.
After all, the intent doesn’t always matter in national security law. What matters is exposure.
Besides, using Signal may also have violated federal archiving laws. Government records must be preserved—and Signal deletes automatically.
As a result, more questions are being raised. Who knew what? And when?
Jeffrey Goldberg didn’t stay silent. He explained that while officials sometimes use Signal, it’s mostly for schedules or basic logistics.
He stressed that it should never be used to plan military operations.
Moreover, he avoided quoting the most dangerous messages. He said doing so could endanger U.S. troops and intelligence assets.
Still, he called the chat a serious leak. Others in the media agree.
One reason the backlash is so strong? The same officials now under fire once accused Democrats of doing the same.
Rubio, Waltz, and Hegseth all criticized Hillary Clinton’s email use. They blasted the Obama and Biden teams for being “reckless” with classified info.
Now, they’re caught red-handed. With even fewer safeguards in place.
It’s not just a mistake—it’s political hypocrisy. And it’s playing out in real time.
Waltz is clearly the man in the spotlight. Some insiders want him gone. Others suggest he could be charged under the Espionage Act.
Since he added Goldberg, he might be the easiest one to blame. But he’s not alone. Every official in that chat could face scrutiny.
Furthermore, if investigators determine that sensitive details were mishandled, they could bring serious charges.
So far, no one has stepped down. Yet pressure is building fast.
Trump hasn’t commented publicly on the legal risk. But sources say he’s scrambling behind the scenes. His team wants the scandal to disappear before it hurts his campaign.
Firing Waltz might buy time. However, doing so may also raise questions about deeper flaws inside Trump’s national security operation.
No matter what, the heat is on.
The White House confirmed the Signal chat was real. But so far, officials claim it wasn’t intentional. A “wrong number” was added, they said.
Still, that excuse isn’t enough for critics. Many lawmakers want a full investigation. They demand accountability—especially with national secrets involved.
If criminal charges come, it would be one of the biggest Espionage Act cases in recent U.S. history.
So, again—what is the Espionage Act?
It’s a powerful law designed to protect U.S. national security. If someone leaks defense plans, even by mistake, the law can come down hard.
This isn’t just about one wrong message. It’s about how America handles its most sensitive secrets.
And right now, it looks like that system is broken.
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