Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to polygraph top military officers, ABC News confirms

ABC News has confirmed that in at least two separate meetings Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused top-ranking military officers of leaking to the media and threatened to polygraph them.

According to one person familiar with the exchanges, Hegseth was upset by media reports that he had planned a briefing for Elon Musk on China.

SEE ALSO: Hegseth lashes out at alleged Pentagon leakers he claims want to 'sabotage' Trump

In a meeting with Adm. Christopher Grady, who was serving as then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hegseth yelled "Ill hook you up to a [expletive] polygraph!"

Hegseth then made a similar threat in a separate meeting with Lt. Gen. Doug Sims, the Joint Staff director, according to the person.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the exchanges.

SEE ALSO: Hegseth attacks media, former employees after 2nd Signal chat with family revealed

A spokesperson for the Joint Staff declined to comment.