Photo edit of John Kirby, the coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council. Credit: Alexander J. Williams III/Pop Acta.
Photo edit of John Kirby, the coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council. Credit: Alexander J. Williams III/Pop Acta.

The White House has called on journalists to avoid reporting on leaked Pentagon classified documents that have recently surfaced online, stating that the information is not intended for public consumption and their validity has not been confirmed. The Pentagon has responded to the leak by confirming that it is investigating the matter and assessing the documents’ national security impact.

White House Urges Journalists to Withhold Reporting on Leaked Classified Documents

The White House has urged journalists to refrain from reporting on leaked Pentagon classified documents that have been circulating online. John Kirby, the coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, spoke at a White House press briefing on Monday, stating that the documents have no place in the public domain, and their validity has not been confirmed. Kirby added that such information is not intended for public consumption and should not be on the front pages of newspapers or on television, saying:

“Without confirming the validity of the documents, this is information that has no business in the public domain. It has no business — if you don’t mind me saying — on the front pages of newspapers or on television. It is not intended for public consumption and it should not be out there.”

Pentagon Responds to Leak of Classified Secrets

Following the emergence of classified documents on social media, the Pentagon released a statement confirming that it is working to assess their validity and national security impact. The documents appear to contain secret details about China, Russia’s war in Ukraine, surveillance efforts, and more. The Pentagon has engaged with allies, partners, and Congress about the disclosure, and the Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into the matter following a referral from the Department of Defense.

Uncertainty Surrounds the Source of the Leak

The source of the apparent leak remains unclear, but a U.S. defense official told The Washington Post that many of the documents look like they were prepared for Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other senior military officials. Kirby confirmed that there is suspicion that at least some of the images of documents may have been doctored. President Joe Biden is being briefed on the situation, and Kirby stated that it is unclear whether the suspected leak is contained, or whether there is an ongoing threat.

Israel Denies Allegations of Intelligence Involvement

Israel has pushed back on allegations made by The Washington Post that its Mossad intelligence agency encouraged protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial judicial reforms plan. The Prime Minister’s office called the report “mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever” in a Twitter post claiming to be on Mossad’s behalf.

“The report that was published overnight in the American press is mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever.”

The President of the United States, Joe Biden, is being briefed on certain documents and the White House has requested that journalists avoid reporting on them. It is unclear who leaked the documents, and some believe that portions of them may have been altered.

The Israeli government has denied any involvement in protests concerning Prime Minister Netanyahu’s proposed judicial reforms, which would transfer more control over the judiciary to the Knesset, sparking outrage among many Israelis. The proposed changes would be the most significant since the country’s founding in 1948 and would include giving the government a majority of the seats on the committee responsible for selecting judges, a clause that allows parliament to pass laws previously invalidated by the court, and a bill making it more difficult for a sitting Prime Minister to be declared unfit for office.

The proposed reforms have led to widespread protests, drawing hundreds of thousands of individuals from various backgrounds, including businesspeople, academics, and military personnel. There are concerns that these reforms are intended to protect the current Prime Minister, who faces allegations of fraud, bribery, and breach of trust, from being declared unfit for office, and that they will result in judges being appointed to favor the Prime Minister’s interests.



Comments

  1. Oh, he wants to keep it a secret. We are not to see his failures. Like Bragg leaking a Sealed Indictment on Trump. It is a Crime to leak Docs such as those.

  2. We don’t have any reason to question whether China has the information leaked. . .THEY ARE ON THE INCLUDED LIST TO BE COPIED ON ALL CORRESPONDENCE ! ! !

  3. The government wants to keep everything secret because the American citizens don’t deserve honesty and transparency. The dregs are too stupid to understand – no, we are smart enough o realize your malicious incompetency.

  4. Last time I looked, it was a reporters job to expose truth no matter where it came from, as long as it could be verified. Your words seem to being spouting communist methods. Only report what we want the people to know. Well, you can stick that concept where the sun does not shine. America is still America, at least for now. Just remember, there are still many who wish to keep it that way

  5. The shoe John Kirby is lying for the administration and looking like a moron doing it. Assuming he had an ounce of credibility when he retired from the Navy, he has none now.

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