Boston: Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira received a 15-year prison sentence on Tuesday after pleading guilty to leaking highly classified U.S. military documents online. The sensitive materials, some detailing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, were disseminated on a private Discord server frequented by a group of gamers. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani sentenced the 22-year-old in Boston, where she condemned the scope of the leak as “one of the most significant and consequential violations” of U.S. anti-espionage law to date.
During his sentencing, Teixeira expressed remorse, telling the court, “I’m sorry for all of the harm that I’ve brought and that I’ve caused.” Clad in an orange prison uniform, he listened as Judge Talwani noted that Teixeira had disregarded extensive training on handling classified material and posted “hundreds of documents over a period of a year.” She criticized his superiors for not stopping his activity sooner, calling it “truly unfortunate” that he continued posting despite prior warnings.
Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking online highly classified US military documents, including some related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine https://t.co/12MismKQmf pic.twitter.com/zgCWKhQC2Y
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 13, 2024
The prosecution recounted that Teixeira, who has been held in custody since his arrest in April 2023, leaked national defense information to his online friends while flaunting his access to classified material about countries like Israel, Syria, Iran, and China. His actions began in January 2022, just ahead of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with leaks detailing U.S. military aid to Ukraine and strategic information about its application. Prosecutors pushed for a sentence close to 17 years, asserting that it would serve as a “cautionary tale” for others in the military and government with security clearances.
Teixeira’s defense urged a lesser 11-year sentence, arguing that Teixeira, who they said is autistic and isolated, never intended to harm U.S. interests but rather sought to educate his friends about global events. “He naively believed he could trust his friends,” stated defense attorney Michael Bachrach, suggesting that Teixeira did not anticipate the broader implications of his disclosures.
In addition to his federal charges, Teixeira has agreed to resolve pending military charges, including obstruction of justice and failure to obey a lawful order. Though the Air Force has not confirmed a formal deal, Teixeira faces a court-martial in March.
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Teixeira held the rank of airman first class at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, where he worked in cyber defense. Despite his relatively junior position, he possessed top-secret clearance, which allowed him access to sensitive military data. Prosecutors revealed that even after superiors cautioned him twice in 2022 about his handling of classified information, he continued his unauthorized data access, which eventually led to his arrest.
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In response to the breach, the Air Force announced disciplinary actions for 15 personnel, including the removal of Colonel Sean Riley from command of Teixeira’s unit. An internal review found that leadership had been aware of Teixeira’s suspicious behavior on at least four occasions but had not taken action to curb his access.
