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Joe TEIXEIRA a member of the US Air National Guard leaked Pentagon documents last year in one of the most high-profile intelligence leaks of recent years and has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
Teixeeira, 22, was charged with the wilful retention and transmission of national defense information and pleaded guilty in March.
While employed at an Air National Guard base, Teixeeira bought maps, satellite images, and intelligence on US allies and passed them to an online forum used by gamers.
Among the documents was the information about the war in Ukraine which was classified.
Prosecutors asked US District Court Judge Indira Talwani to give Teixeeira a 16-and-a-half-year sentence. His defence lawyers sought an 11-year term in jail for him.
, his attorneys said in court papers and in arguments to the judge that Teixeira was bullied while in high school and in his Air Force unit, and was isolated.
On the other hand, prosecutors persisted on a longer incarceration term as they said that the airman had ‘committed one of the most egregious and far-reaching violations of the Espionage Act of the United States of America’.
“Teixeira cared about his country being jeopardized and did it anyway,” the prosecutors told Talwani on Tuesday.
Passing sentence, Judge Talwani said to Teixeira: That is why she says to the same man: ‘You are so young and you still have a future in front of you, and yet, it is such a serious crime’.
Being pressed by reporters inside the Boston court, Teixeira apologized before the court and stated that he takes everything “personally and alone…”
Teixeira started just a few enthusiasts of firearms and military affairs in a text channel on Discord at the end of 2022. The document remained in the said chatroom, to begin with, however, the information mentioned there circulated onto other, more open channels afterward.
They were then collected by centrist Telegram channels and military bloggers.
Teixeira joined the Massachusetts Air National Guard in the same year it was established as a reserve of the U.S. Air Force. In that position, he had a top-secret security clearance.
For this clearance, Teixeira agreed to sign a “lifetime binding non-disclosure” where he agrees that the “unlawful disclosure of protected information could attract criminal cases” as highlighted in the court papers.
Teixeira’s leak led it back to the Pentagon where this caused it to conduct a poll on its policies for dealing with classified information.
It was the largest such leak since Edward Snowden leaked files from the National Security Agency back in 2013 and has led to concerns about the ability of Teixeira and other junior members of the SC staff to access top secret information.
FAQs
Who is Jack Teixeira?
Jack Teixeira is a former U.S. Air National Guardsman who was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison. He worked in a cybersecurity role with access to classified information, which he allegedly shared online.
What did he do?
Teixeira was accused of leaking highly sensitive U.S. intelligence documents, including information on national security and international affairs. These documents reportedly appeared on Discord, a popular social media platform for gamers.
Why is this significant?
This case highlights the serious consequences of unauthorized disclosure of classified information. The leaks allegedly exposed intelligence methods and insights into global security issues, including U.S. and allied efforts in geopolitical matters.
What charges did he face?
Teixeira faced multiple charges under the Espionage Act. His actions were deemed harmful to U.S. national security interests, leading to his 15-year sentence after he pled guilty.
What message does this case send?
Teixeira’s sentencing serves as a stern reminder of the importance of maintaining secrecy in defense and intelligence work. The severe penalty underscores the risks of violating protocols in handling classified information.