WORCESTER, Mass – Jack Teixeira, the Massachusetts Air National Guard member accused of leaking highly classified military documents, pleaded not guilty to six federal felony charges in Worcester Federal Court on Wednesday.
Texeria faces six counts of withholding and knowingly transmitting national defense information after allegedly sharing classified military documents about Russia’s war in Ukraine and other sensitive national security topics on the Discord social media platform. The 21-year-old North Dighton resident will remain in federal custody until his next hearing.
UPDATE: MA Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira pleads not guilty to 6 federal felony charges for leaking highly classified military information. He will remain in federal custody until his next hearing. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/zKuqeCgeaH
— Litsa Pappas (@LitsaPappas) June 21, 2023
The breach exposing the closely guarded intelligence has sparked international concern and raised new questions about America’s ability to safeguard its secrets.
A magistrate judge ruled last month that Teixeira must remain in prison while the case unfolds, saying that releasing Teixeira would pose a risk that he would try to flee the country or obstruct justice.
The judge also cited Teixeira’s “fascination with guns,” disturbing online statements and warnings from Teixeira’s military superiors about his handling of sensitive information before his arrest.
Teixeira was first arrested in April when federal agents swarmed his home.
Teixeira’s lawyer has said that his client “will answer the charges” and “will be judged by his fellow citizens”. In seeking his release, Teixeira’s lawyers argued that the government is not alleging that Teixeira never intended the information to be widely disseminated.
Teixeira’s family said in an emailed statement last month that they “remain as committed as ever” to supporting him.
Investigators believe Teixeira was the leader of a private chat group called Thug Shaker Central, where enthusiasts shared jokes, talked about their favorite types of weapons and discussed wars, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Authorities say Teixeira, who enlisted in the Air National Guard in 2019, began around January sharing military secrets with other Discord users, first writing classified documents and then sharing photos of files marked SECRET and TOP SECRET. Teixeira worked as a “cyber transportation systems specialist,” essentially a computer specialist responsible for military communications networks.
Prosecutors say he continued to leak government secrets even after he was warned by superiors about mishandling and inappropriate display of classified information. After being admonished by superiors last year, he was seen again in February viewing information unrelated to the intelligence field, not his primary duty, according to internal Air National Guard memos presented to the court
Each count Teixeira faces is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
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