Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira to face military justice proceeding
WASHINGTON — Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, who pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges of leaking top-secret military documents about the war in Ukraine and other national security secrets, will face military legal proceedings later this month, they said officials Wednesday.
Teixeira, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, faces two charges in the military justice system, including obstruction of justice and disobeying a lawful order, Air Force officials said. Prosecutors will present evidence during the military proceedings May 14 at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts. The case could then go to a court-martial if it is determined there is sufficient evidence to support the charges.
The military proceedings come nearly two months after Teixeira pleaded guilty in federal court to six counts of intentionally retaining and transmitting national defense information under the Espionage Act. That was almost a year after he was arrested in the biggest national security breach in years.
He admitted in court that he illegally collected some of the country’s most sensitive secrets and shared them with other users on Discord, a social media platform popular with people who play online games.
Teixeira, who was part of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, worked as a cybertransportation systems specialist, essentially an information technology specialist responsible for military communications networks.
A spokesperson for Teixeira’s family said Wednesday they had no comment and that his attorneys in his criminal case did not immediately respond to an email.
The stunning security breach raised alarm about America’s ability to protect its best-kept secrets and forced the Biden administration to scramble to limit the diplomatic and military fallout. The leaks embarrassed the Pentagon, which tightened controls to protect classified information and discipline members who had deliberately failed to take required action against Teixeira’s suspicious behavior.
Authorities said he first typed up classified documents he had gained access to and then began sharing photos of files marked SECRET and TOP SECRET. Prosecutors also said he tried to cover his tracks before his arrest, and authorities found a broken tablet, laptop and Xbox gaming console in a dumpster at his home.
The leak exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments of Russia’s war in Ukraine, including information on troop movements in Ukraine and the delivery of supplies and equipment to Ukrainian forces. Teixeira also admitted to posting information about a U.S. adversary’s plans to harm U.S. troops serving abroad.
__
Associated Press writers Alanna Durkin Richer and Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.