Pentagon disclosure about fired general's failed polygraph may have violated privacy laws, attorneys say

Key Points:

• Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia was fired from the Joint Staff after failing three polygraph tests amid an investigation into alleged leaks of classified information about Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war to journalists, according to a Pentagon official.
• The Pentagon's public disclosure of Sylvia's polygraph results and investigation details has raised legal concerns, with experts saying it may violate the Privacy Act of 1974, which protects such personal information from unauthorized release.
• Some sources dispute the claims of leaking classified information, and while an internal report reportedly confirms Sylvia admitted to leaks, CBS News has not independently verified these allegations.
• Critics argue that the Pentagon's use of polygraph results, which are not admissible as evidence in court, to publicly accuse Sylvia may undermine due process and could constitute unlawful command influence in the military justice system.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has aggressively pursued leak investigations, firing multiple high-ranking officials amid ongoing probes, though past allegations under his tenure have sometimes been found unsubstantiated.