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The Jerusalem Post

US grand jury indicts Pentagon leak suspect Teixeira, Justice Department says

 
 An undated picture shows Jack Douglas Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the US Air National Guard, who was arrested by the FBI, over his alleged involvement in leaks online of classified documents, posing for a selfie at an unidentified location. (photo credit: SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE/VIA REUTERS)
An undated picture shows Jack Douglas Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the US Air National Guard, who was arrested by the FBI, over his alleged involvement in leaks online of classified documents, posing for a selfie at an unidentified location.
(photo credit: SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE/VIA REUTERS)

Teixeira is accused of committing one of the most serious US security breaches since more than 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2010.

A federal grand jury has indicted a US Air National guardsman accused of leaking top-secret military intelligence records online, the Justice Department said in a statement on Thursday.

Jack Douglas Teixeira, 21, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, was indicted on six counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information relating to national defense, the statement said.

Each charge of unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, the department added.

What is Teixeira accused of?

Teixeira is accused of committing one of the most serious US security breaches since more than 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2010.

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He was arrested in April after allegedly posting highly classified material on the messaging app Discord, prompting concerns about how a low-level airman could have such broad access to military secrets. Two commanders in his unit were later suspended.

 Jack Douglas Teixeira, a US Air Force National Guard airman accused of leaking highly classified military intelligence records online, makes his initial appearance before a federal judge in Boston, Massachusetts, US April 14, 2023 in a courtroom sketch. (credit: REUTERS/Margaret Small)
Jack Douglas Teixeira, a US Air Force National Guard airman accused of leaking highly classified military intelligence records online, makes his initial appearance before a federal judge in Boston, Massachusetts, US April 14, 2023 in a courtroom sketch. (credit: REUTERS/Margaret Small)

Federal law requires the government to secure an indictment within 30 days of a person's arrest, and Thursday marked the 30-day deadline.

A member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 102nd Intelligence Wing, Teixeira had earlier waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

He had been charged in a criminal complaint with one count of violating the Espionage Act for unlawful copying and transmitting sensitive defense material, and a second charge related to unlawful removal of defense material to an unauthorized location.

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