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Jack Teixeira is sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking classified Pentagon documents

by November 12, 2024

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A member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison for violating the Espionage Act by sharing hundreds of classified documents on social media. This security breach was described by officials as “stunning” and “immeasurable” and led to the punishment of 15 military personnel.

Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira, 22, pleaded guilty in March to six counts of willful withholding of defense files for sharing classified documents over the social media platform Discord.

The leaks exposed embarrassing secrets and analysis from across the U.S. intelligence community surrounding Russia’s war in Ukraine and North Korea’s race to develop nuclear weapons.

“The magnitude of his betrayal is breathtaking,” acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy told U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in a sentencing memo. “The damage he has caused is immeasurable.”

“One of the most serious” violations of the Espionage Act: Prosecutors

Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of nearly 17 years, or 200 months, and defense attorneys were allowed to recommend a prison sentence of at least 11 years, according to the plea agreement.

Prosecutors said Teixeira “caused exceptional harm to the national security of the United States” by releasing the documents “to feed his own ego.”

“Defendant Jack Douglas Teixeira committed one of the most significant and consequential violations of the Espionage Act in American history,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo. “The damage the defendant caused to national security through the disclosure of national defense information is extraordinary.”

Defense attorneys portrayed Teixeira as lonely and isolated

Teixeira’s defense attorneys, public defenders Brendan Kelley and Michael Bachrach, described him as an autistic and isolated person who made friends online that he was never able to find in high school.

“His intent was never to harm the United States,” the lawyers said. “Instead, his intention was to educate his friends about world events to ensure they were not misled by misinformation.”

The case exposed what officials described as a shocking security breach.

Matthew Olsen, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s National Security Division, said Teixeira had “blatantly” rejected warnings about leaking some of the country’s most closely guarded secrets, causing “significant harm to our country’s security.” Olsen called the revelations “shocking to witness.”

Leaks revealed ‘lack of adequate oversight’ and ‘culture of complacency’: Inspector General

The Air Force disciplined 15 National Guard members after an investigation found a “lack of adequate oversight” and a “culture of complacency,” according to an inspector general’s report.

The inspector general’s report found that in February 2022, Teixeira began posting sensitive information in a Discord chat group where geopolitical matters were discussed. He was only reported to the responsible security officials in January 2023.

Meanwhile, Teixeira was observed viewing intelligence documents on his computer that were marked “top secret” or “sensitive confidential information.” However, the incidents were not documented. He was also told to stop making notes on classified recordings, but the incidents were not immediately reported to the security official in charge.

In disciplining military personnel, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Airmen and National Guard members have a solemn duty to protect sensitive information and must be held accountable for failures.

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