Jack Teixeira (21), suspected Pentagon leaker, Photo: Stefani Reynolds / AFP
A federal court in Boston has sentenced a former US National Guard soldier, 22-year-old Jack Teixeira, to 15 years in prison for leaking confidential documents, including those related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This was reported by The Hill.
Teixeira was arrested in April 2023 at his home near Boston after a large-scale FBI search that began after he published classified materials in a private group on the Discord platform. The documents revealed US intelligence concerns about the development of a Ukrainian counter-offensive and demonstrated intelligence gathering on US allies such as Israel and South Korea.
During the court hearing, Teixeira apologised to Judge Indira Talwani, admitting responsibility for his actions. “I understand that the consequences of this are entirely on my shoulders,” he said.
The judge emphasised the importance of secrecy in the Internet age, where any leak can spread quickly and have global consequences. “You are young, but you know very well how information is spread online,” said Judge Talwani.
This case raised questions about the security of sensitive data in US government agencies, as Teixeira, despite his low rank, had access to extremely sensitive data. He worked in a cyber defence unit at a military base near Boston and was responsible for processing IT and communications information.
Prosecutors argued that Teixeira regularly discussed violence on social media and kept a large arsenal of weapons in his home. His lawyers reportedly tried to portray him as a “naive” young man who simply wanted to impress his friends in a Discord group where military topics were discussed.
After pleading guilty to several charges, Teixeira managed to avoid a longer sentence, but the case will continue in a military court, where he may also face additional charges.
