Despite various media outlets reporting on leaks, the Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Donald Trump has not yet charged anyone with leaking information.
On Sunday, it was noted that the Trump administration is taking a range of actions aimed at identifying potential leakers. The Department of Defense (DOD) is reportedly utilizing lie detector tests on employees to discover those responsible for disclosing sensitive information to the press, as revealed by Joe Kasper, the DOD Chief of Staff.
Other agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), are also using polygraph tests in their investigations, according to multiple media sources.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) brought potential leakers to the DOJ’s attention, with Tulsi Gabbard, the DNI, tweeting about this development in April.
Gabbard also indicated that another leaker would soon be introduced to the DOJ.
Additionally, the ODNI is investigating 12 other ongoing leaks, as reported by a spokesperson.
In a recent tweet, Gabbard emphasized that leaking classified information poses serious risks to national security, urging accountability for those involved.
A month prior, DHS Chief Christa Noem stated that her department had identified a leaker to the DOJ for prosecution.
She mentioned that these individuals could face up to 10 years in federal prison, insisting that all leaks must be addressed.
Despite apparent efforts to uncover leakers, the Trump administration has not shown significant progress. A DOJ spokesperson did not provide updates when asked about advancements in prosecuting leakers.
While the DOJ has charged at least one individual for leaking confidential information, this case differs. The accused is alleged to have attempted to send national defense information to a foreign government, not the press.
Several notable leaks have surfaced during the Trump administration. For instance, in March, a report from Jeffrey Goldberg in The Atlantic revealed that he had inadvertently been added to an encrypted group chat where high-ranking officials discussed military plans.
Goldberg’s situation arose when former National Security Adviser Mike Waltz mistakenly included him in discussions regarding aggressive military strategies, such as a bomb campaign in Yemen.
Other leaks have been less transparent, such as a June incident where CNN published a leaked report from the Defense Intelligence Agency regarding a US strike on Iran’s nuclear facility. The report indicated that the strike had only temporarily hindered Iran’s nuclear program, and the network later acknowledged its initial “low confidence” rating.
Following that leak, it was reported that Trump planned to limit classified information sharing with Congress.
Most recently, Axios obtained a note from a joint FBI and DOJ investigation, concluding that convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein had no client list and had committed suicide.
