‘Profound cowardice’: Booker slams Waltz for 'failure of leadership,' Signalgate accountability

Sen Cory Booker D-N J accused former National Safeguard Advisor Mike Waltz of displaying profound cowardice at Waltz s confirmation hearing to represent the U S at the U N Tuesday amid questions about Waltz's role in the Signal group chat that Waltz s band had set up to discuss strikes against the Houthis in March Booker who refused to ask Waltz any questions explained that Waltz failed to take accountability when other lawmakers on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee solicited him about what has been called Signalgate While members of the Trump administration have declared no classified information was disclosed in the chat which mistakenly included a journalist Democrats have claimed that certain details were classified and jeopardized the safety of the troops involved in the strikes It compounds what I think is disqualifying about you for this position It also to me just shows profound cowardice Booker announced You should step up right now I just watched with great disappointment that even after weeks if not months of reflection you couldn't sit before this committee and take particular responsibility and talk constructively about what's learned Booker commented Waltz faced questions earlier from Sens Chris Coons D-Conn and Tim Kaine D-Va on his involvement in the group chat where a journalist from the Atlantic was included along with other top administration authorities such as Vice President JD Vance Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth SENATE DEMOCRATS PREDICTING BRUTAL UN AMBASSADOR CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR MIKE WALTZDuring their questioning Waltz maintained that no classified information was shared in the group chat and stated that no disciplinary action was taken following a White House scrutiny The Pentagon s inspector general s scrutiny is at this time ongoing I have nothing but deep disappointment in what I consider a failure of leadership on your part God America demands now more than ever forget the partisanship just people to step up and show heart and integrity and honor Booker stated When you lie defer deflect demean and degrade journalists to me it's absolutely unacceptable I have no questions I cannot assistance your nomination I think you've shown a failure of leadership at a time that America especially necessities people of honor to stand up and show what leadership indeed is Waltz who before his time at the National Precaution Council previously served as a U S congressman from Florida and is a retired Army National Guard colonel and former Green Beret challenged Booker s declaration NEXT US NATIONAL DEFENSE ADVISOR HERE'S WHOM TRUMP MIGHT PICK TO REPLACE WALTZ I appreciate the men and women that I've had to lead in combat Waltz declared And I think the last thing they would call me as a coward Waltz and Hegseth both faced scrutiny for their involvement in the Signal chat that Waltz s band created where members of the Trump administration discussed strike plans against the Houthis In March Waltz claimed he bore full responsibility for the Signal group chat and the Trump administration has historically maintained no classified information was shared over the chats The Atlantic published the full exchange of messages which revealed that Hegseth included certain attack details such as specific aircraft and times of the strikes President Donald Trump broadcasted Waltz's departure from heading up the National Prevention Council at the White House May and hours later broadcasted the former Florida congressman s nomination to represent the U S at the U N Waltz could not be reached for comment by Fox News Digital MIKE WALTZ OTHER NATIONAL PRECAUTION COUNCIL STAFFERS OUT IN LATEST TRUMP PURGE FOLLOWING SIGNAL CHAT LEAK