FBI closes in on TWO DOZEN gamers in Pentagon leaker’s Discord group – including RUSSIANS

The FBI is closing in on more than two dozen potential suspects involved in Jack Teixeira’s Discord page, where he allegedly leaked security secrets.

It comes as it was revealed Teixeira, the US Air National Guardsman accused of leaking classified documents to a small group of gamers, had posted sensitive information months earlier than previously known and to a much larger chat group.

In February 2022, shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, a user profile matching that of Airman Jack Teixeira began posting classified information about the Russian war effort.

Teixeira used a previously undisclosed chat group on the social platform Discord, the newspaper reported, adding that the group had about 600 members, according to the New York Times, citing online posts reviewed by the paper.

The FBI has interviewed friends of Teixeira from the infamous “Thug Shaker Central” Discord service.

They have been asked how they came to know Teixeira, what kind of games they played and whether they are foreign citizens.

Those hanging out on the Discord had previously said that some of the two dozen members were from Russia, Ukraine, mainland Europe, Asia and South America, according to the Washington Post.

At least one former member’s electronic devices have been seized by the FBI, but it’s not clear if the FBI confirmed foreigners were on the server.

Teixeira, 21, was scheduled for a hearing in Boston federal court, but the judge canceled it after Teixeira’s attorney filed a motion asking for an adjournment of about two weeks.

The defense said it “needs more time to resolve the issues arising from the government’s request for detention.” A new date has not yet been set.

On Wednesday morning, Teixeira was taken to court in handcuffs and prison orange clothing as he waived his right to a preliminary hearing. He said nothing but answering yes and no to questions about whether he understood his rights and the procedure.

Teixeira was charged last week under the Espionage Act with unauthorized retention and disclosure of classified national defense information. During his first trial last Friday, a magistrate ordered him to remain in custody until his arrest hearing.

He has not yet filed a plea. His federal public defender did not respond to an email from The Associated Press last week and did not speak to reporters at the courthouse.

Teixeira is accused of sharing top-secret military documents about Russia’s war in Ukraine and other major national security issues in a chat room on Discord, a social media platform that started as a hangout for gamers. The stunning breach that exposes classified information has raised international concern and raised new questions about America’s ability to protect its secrets.

Air Force chiefs said on Tuesday they were investigating how a lone airman could potentially access and distribute hundreds of highly classified documents. The Air Force also took away an intelligence mission from the Air National Guard 102nd Intelligence Wing, based in Cape Cod where Teixeira served, pending further investigation.

Court records unsealed last week revealed how billing records the FBI obtained from Discord and interviews with social media comrades led authorities to Teixeira.

Investigators believe he was the leader of an online private chat group on Discord called Thug Shaker Central, which attracted about two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favorite gun types and shared memes and jokes. The group also held an ongoing discussion about wars, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

A Discord user familiar with Teixeira’s online posts told the FBI that a username associated with Teixeira began posting what appeared to be classified information about December. The individual provided the FBI with basic identification information about Teixeira, including that he called himself “Jack,” claimed to be part of the Air National Guard, and appeared to live in Massachusetts, according to court records.

The person also told the FBI that Teixeira switched from typing out documents in his possession to taking them home and photographing them because he had become “concerned that he might be discovered transcribing text in the workplace.”

That’s different from what posters have told The Associated Press and other media – that the user they’d call “the OG” started posting images of documents because he was annoyed that other users weren’t taking him seriously.

According to the prosecution’s statement, Teixeira was discovered on April 6 — the day The New York Times first published a story about document breaches — searching for the word “leak” in a secret system. The FBI says that was reason to believe Teixeira was trying to find information about the investigation into who was responsible for the leaks.

The classified documents range from briefing slides mapping Ukrainian military positions to assessments of international support for Ukraine and other sensitive topics, including under what circumstances Russian President Vladimir Putin might use nuclear weapons.

Authorities have not revealed an alleged motive. But members of the Discord group described Teixeira as someone who wants to show off, rather than being motivated by a desire to inform the public about US military operations or influence US policy.

The Biden administration has made efforts to contain the potential diplomatic and military ramifications of the leaks since they were first reported, to reassure allies and assess the extent of the damage. There is no clear answer to how many documents have been leaked. The Associated Press reviewed about 50 documents; some estimates place the total number in the hundreds.