Judge Moves to Prevent Hegseth, Waltz and Others From Deleting Houthi Texts

A federal judge in Washington issued a directive on Thursday requiring multiple officials from the Trump administration to retain all messages exchanged in a Signal group chat concerning an imminent attack on Yemen. The order, handed down by Judge James E. Boasberg, stems from a lawsuit filed by the nonprofit watchdog group American Oversight. The group alleges that President Trump’s national security team breached federal record-keeping laws by using Signal—an encrypted messaging app—to discuss sensitive military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Judge Boasberg, presiding in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, mandated that several high-ranking officials—including National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance—preserve their messages. His order specifically covers communications sent between March 11 and March 15, during the period when the administration was formulating its plans for the attack.

The ruling underscores that at least some mechanisms of governmental accountability remain functional despite senior officials engaging in what critics describe as a grave lapse in operational security. Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi has indicated that the Justice Department is unlikely to initiate an investigation into the matter.

Appearing on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle” on Thursday night, Bondi continued the administration’s broad critique of federal judges who have challenged Trump’s executive actions. She argued that Judge Boasberg should be removed from handling cases involving the administration, along with other judges perceived to be adversarial.

During a hearing in the District Court, Judge Boasberg clarified that his preservation order was issued solely to ensure the messages remained intact, rather than as a determination of wrongdoing by administration officials. American Oversight, known for its efforts to obtain government records under the Freedom of Information Act, contends that the use of Signal for discussing military strategy violates the Federal Records Act, which mandates the preservation of official communications involving agency personnel. Judge Boasberg has not yet ruled on whether a legal violation occurred.

The revelation that top officials not only used Signal to deliberate over an impending military strike but also mistakenly included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, in their conversation has sent shockwaves through the national security community. American Oversight’s lawsuit appears to be a preemptive attempt to prevent the potential deletion of key evidence from the chat group.

In a court filing on Thursday, the Justice Department disclosed that one participant, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, had already submitted the messages stored on his phone. However, a Pentagon attorney noted that while a full transcript of the chat had been requested from Defense Secretary Hegseth, it remained uncertain whether he had complied.

Judge Boasberg opened the court session with an acknowledgment—albeit restrained—of the significant pressure being exerted on him by Trump and his allies. Earlier that morning, Trump had taken to social media to falsely claim that statistical improbabilities suggested Judge Boasberg had been improperly assigned not only the Signal chat case but also other legal matters involving the administration. Among these cases is a lawsuit challenging Trump’s reliance on a seldom-used wartime statute to deport Venezuelan immigrants without affording them a hearing or due process.

At the start of Thursday’s hearing, Judge Boasberg took a moment to clarify to the public how he came to preside over the case, emphasizing that his assignment was the result of a routine random selection process from a pool of 24 judges in the district. His statement served as a direct rebuttal to Trump’s baseless accusations of judicial bias.

Trump and his supporters have since called for Judge Boasberg’s impeachment over various rulings, including his decision to temporarily block the administration from invoking wartime powers to expel Venezuelan migrants without adhering to legal due process. Despite mounting political attacks, the judge’s decision to enforce record preservation requirements highlights the ongoing struggle over government transparency and adherence to legal standards in national security matters.