A Massachusetts Air National Guard member, accused of disseminating numerous classified documents on social media, resulting in disciplinary measures for 15 service members, pleaded guilty on Monday to all six charges against him.
Jack Teixeira, Airman's 1st Class, faced six charges of willfully retaining defense records for alleged public distribution via the social media platform Discord, which U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani scheduled for September 27. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said prosecutors would propose almost 17 years in prison. In comparison, defense lawyers could suggest a minimum of 11 years, emphasizing that Teixeira would spend many years behind bars, citing it was a "serious hit."
Shocking Crime of Teixeira's Public Disclosure
After the proceedings, 22-year-old Teixeira exchanged a smile with his father before being escorted out of the courtroom, dressed in orange jail attire, with his hands and legs restrained and black rosary beads around his neck.
Matthew Olsen, an assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's National Security Division, stated that Teixeira blatantly ignored warnings about sharing highly sensitive national secrets, causing significant harm to the nation's security, describing the public disclosures as shocking.
Leaked National Defense's Secrets
The leaks revealed embarrassing secrets and analyses from various U.S. intelligence agencies concerning Russia's war in Ukraine and North Korea's nuclear weapons development.
The classified documents leaked on Discord included information from agencies like the NSA, CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, law enforcement agencies, and the secretive National Reconnaissance Office, which manages spy satellites. Levy explained that the documents covered ongoing conflicts in Europe, detailing troop movements in Ukraine and the supply of resources. Additionally, they outlined an adversary's intentions to harm U.S. forces abroad, which Levy described as particularly objectionable, noting, "He did not care at all about the consequences."
Teixeira allegedly shared a significant document on Discord involving a top-secret analysis from February, predicting that Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russia would result in modest gains, contrary to the Biden Administration's optimistic outlook. This assessment proved accurate, as the conflict remains at a stalemate.
Jodi Cohen, FBI special agent in charge of the Boston office, noted that when considering national security threats, people typically think of China, Russia, and Iran and would not expect a 21-year-old National Air Guardsman, who swore an oath to defend the Constitution, to be on that list, remarking Teixeira knew his actions were wrong, yet proceeded nonetheless.
15 Other Members Disciplined Over Security Leaks
Teixeira, stationed at the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, served primarily as an information technology specialist, overseeing military communication networks.
The Air Force disciplined 15 National Guard members after probing the substantial online disclosure of classified data, purportedly by a Massachusetts airman, which an inspector general's report highlighted as "inadequate supervision" and a "complacent culture." Teixeira's superiors were faulted for neglecting to limit his access to classified systems and facilities and failing to alert authorities over his alleged illicit sharing of government secrets.
The statement from Teixeira's parents expressed disbelief at their child's involvement in such a serious matter but noted his acceptance of responsibility. They also raised questions about the Inspector General's investigation findings regarding the work environment, training, oversight, and adherence to policy at the 102nd Intelligence Wing, which directly and indirectly contributed to the incident.
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