Three Defense Departments abandoned by the Pentagon this week amid concerns over fraudulent leaks, raising questions about their sudden public departure.
Deputy Chief of Staff Darrin Selnick and Colin Carroll in a joint statement from Senior Advisor Dan Caldwell. Posted on xmilitary veterans questioned their actions against them, noting that they had little details given regarding the investigation.
After being escorted from the building on vacation this week, employees said they were “incredibly disappointed” by the way their service at the Department of Defense was finished.
“An unknown Pentagon official slandered our character with an unfounded assault on his way out the door,” the aide wrote. “All three of us were honored to our country. For the two of us, this included the development of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And based on our collective services, we understood the importance of information security and worked to protect it every day.”
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Former Pentagon aides Dan Caldwell, left, Darrin Selnick and Colin Carroll. (US Veterans, dod)
The statement was eventually fired Friday night after Joe Casper’s Chief of Staff confirmed with Fox News’ Digital Caldwell.
Caldwell advised the European portfolio, while Celnick focused on operations, management and HR issues, but Fox News Digital previously reported. Carroll attended the acquisition.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surfaced about Israeli President Donald Trump saying that the Pentagon would not intervene if Israel attacked Iran, but officials discounted claims that employees were launched based on their views on foreign policy.
Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll said in a statement that it had not yet been said what they were still investigating for, if there was still an active investigation or if there was even an actual investigation of “leaks” from the start.
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US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses has not yet responded to X’s post (Franco Brana/AFP via Getty Images)
Experts argue that they are not entitled to explanation until the investigation is finished, as it is a typical security protocol that restricts approval and access to potential suspects.
Even if the investigation ends in their favor and as private political appointees, they could be fired of will. If it goes the opposite way, they could lose security clearance or face criminal charges.
“This experience has been ruthless, but we continue to support the Trump Vance administration’s mission to make the Pentagon great again and achieve peace through strength,” the employee wrote to X.
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Department of Defense Views of the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, March 14, 2023
Fox News Digital previously reported that at least one former employee is consulting with an attorney.
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The Department of Defense did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Morgan Phillips of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Alexandra Koch is a news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox News, Alexandra covered news, crime, religion and military in the Southeast.
