Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hosts a ceremony July 2 with the National Guard at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C. Hegseth announced Monday that his department is working with the Department of Justice to "identify and prosecute" people over press leaks. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
July 13 (UPI) -- Pete Hegseth, secretary of the U.S. Defense Department, announced Monday that the Pentagon will team up with the Justice Department to "identify and prosecute" those leaking information to the press.
In a video posted on social media, Hegseth said he has delegated tasking authority to the department's office of general counsel, empowering it to "request and receive all information, records and support across the department concerning media leak investigations."
"Leaked information risks lives; these new tools and processes will greatly assist us in protecting our joint force," Hegseth said. He thanked acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for "his help in this important project."
The task force announcement comes after the Trump administration issued subpoenas this weekend to New York Times journalists, demanding they testify in front of a federal grand jury "in regard to an alleged violation of federal criminal law." The Times reported last week, using anonymous sources, about security concerns involving President Donald Trump's new Air Force One, which was donated by Qatar.
