The White House has distanced itself from a Pentagon leak investigation led by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, after learning the probe was based on dubious claims, including an alleged illegal NSA wiretap. The investigation led to the abrupt firing of three top aides but has since become mired in controversy and confusion.
According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, Hegseth’s personal attorney, Tim Parlatore, allegedly told Trump advisers that senior adviser Dan Caldwell had been exposed by a warrantless wiretap, an act that would have been unconstitutional and more explosive than the original leak itself. Alarmed, White House aides sought clarification, only for Parlatore to later deny ever making such a claim, saying he merely passed along information from Pentagon sources.
The leak in question involved a top secret document outlining military strategies for reclaiming the Panama Canal. Caldwell, along with Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick and the deputy defense secretary’s chief of staff Colin Carroll, were fired last month after being linked to the leak. Caldwell has denied any wrongdoing.
The White House’s confidence in the investigation began to unravel after aides questioned the validity of the wiretap claim and raised concerns about Parlatore’s credibility, particularly given his past ties to Joe Kasper, Hegseth’s first chief of staff. Some Trump advisers now believe the investigation may have been politically motivated, targeting aides involved in prior office conflicts.
Further complicating the matter, rumours emerged that the Air Force Office of Special Investigations initially focused its efforts on other mid-level personnel, only turning its attention to Hegseth’s aides after their termination. This timeline raised doubts about the integrity and focus of the probe.
Pentagon mum
Although the Pentagon has not provided a comment, the investigation has since been transferred to Deputy Defence Secretary Stephen Feinberg’s office. Despite this, Parlatore, a Navy Reserve officer commissioned by Hegseth, retains influence over the process and remains a close advisor.
The fallout leaves Hegseth without a chief or deputy chief of staff as he prepares for a Senate hearing next month. His office, which steers the direction of a nearly $1 trillion military budget, has been left in disarray. An effort to permanently install junior military aide Ricky Buria as chief of staff was blocked by the White House due to concerns over his experience and involvement in the internal drama.
Meanwhile, the three ousted aides continue to assert their innocence, and the investigation has yet to produce conclusive evidence or prompt an FBI referral. The White House has publicly backed Hegseth for now, with a spokesperson stating President Trump remains confident in the secretary’s commitment to military excellence.
