Former national security adviser Mike Waltz defended his use of the messaging app Signal during a confirmation hearing Tuesday during which lawmakers largely avoided the topic.

US ambassador to the UN nominee Mike Waltz was forced to confront “Signalgate” during his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday — and insist he wasn’t technically fired as national security adviser over it.

The confirmation hearing is set to drudge up the past, as Democrats prepare to pepper Waltz on the scandal that led to his removal as national security adviser.