Overview
- U.S. military investigators administered polygraph exams to roughly 50 Joint Staff officers and civilians in August as part of a probe into who leaked classified information to reporters.
- The tests were run by Pentagon investigators without FBI involvement, and CBS reported that no one failed the questions specifically aimed at identifying media leaks.
- The inquiry focused on recent reporting that the war with Iran has depleted stocks of advanced munitions such as long-range precision missiles and Patriot interceptors.
- The sweep followed other unauthorized disclosures, including a leaked Secretary of Defense orders document showing senior dissent about the conduct of the Iran campaign, and it came after the Pentagon set up a DOJ task force to pursue leakers.
- Retired officials and experts called the scope and seniority of the polygraph operation highly unusual and said it could deepen distrust inside the Pentagon, tighten press access, and raise concerns about insider access or foreign compromise.