They won’t be silenced.
Three former Pentagon officials—Dan Caldwell, Colin Carroll, and Darin Selnick—were placed on administrative leave on April 18 amid an ongoing investigation into leaks within the Department of Defense. Caldwell, who had been an adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, along with Selnick and Carroll, expressed their disappointment over the manner in which their service ended. They issued a joint statement on social media criticizing the Pentagon’s actions, stating that the allegations against them were unfounded and did not reflect their years of honorable service, including military deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The three men emphasized their commitment to safeguarding national security and protecting sensitive information during their time at the Pentagon. They also voiced frustration over the lack of clarity regarding the investigation, noting that they had not been informed of the specific nature of the inquiry or whether it was still ongoing. Despite the lack of official details, the men remained firm in their assertion that they had acted with integrity during their tenure.
Caldwell, Carroll, and Selnick all reaffirmed their support for former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, expressing their desire to contribute to efforts to strengthen the Pentagon and achieve peace through strength. Their statement also indicated that they hoped to continue supporting these goals in the future, though not in their current roles at the Pentagon.
Caldwell had been involved in a separate leak incident earlier in March, where he was listed as a point of contact for a Signal group discussing military plans related to Yemen. The chat was mistakenly accessed by a journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, leading to concerns about the leak of sensitive national security information. This incident has prompted a review by the Pentagon Inspector General’s office to determine whether proper procedures were followed in handling sensitive communications.
The Pentagon has not provided any specific details about the reasons behind the investigation or the nature of the leaks under scrutiny. The investigation remains ongoing, and the three officials have expressed their intent to clear their names and continue supporting national security efforts.
