The U.S. Department of Justice has arrested and charged 21-year-old Jack Teixeira for leaking classified documents to an online gaming chat group. Teixeira is a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard who appeared in court yesterday for the alleged leaking of U.S. classified documents on Ukraine battlefield assessments.
He is being accused of accessing and disseminating classified national defense information and was charged with unlawfully copying and transmitting classified materials.
He was arrested on Thursday by heavily armed FBI agents at his home.
At the trial Yesterday, Teixeira did not enter a plea the court denied him bail and ordered him to remain in custody.
His follow-up hearing is scheduled for Wednesday before judge Paul G. Leveson.
Background/Reaction
In 2021, Teixeira was granted a top-secret security clearance which was required by his job.
According to reports, he used that access to leak classified documents which has details of the Ukraine battlefield assessments.
On Friday following the appearance of Teixeira in court, President Joe Biden in a statement directed officials to get to the root of why he had access in the first place.
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Though he commended law enforcement for the swift identification and arrest of the suspect, he directed them to ensure that classified documents are secured.
He said “While we are still determining the validity of those documents, I have directed our military and intelligence community to take steps to further secure and limit the distribution of sensitive information,” He said
Republicans commended the arrest however; the Speaker accused the Biden administration of having been asleep at the switch on protecting the nation’s secrets.
Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, a congresswoman representing Georgia’s 14th districts said people are calling Teixeira a hero for leaking the document
She wrote on her Twitter page: “While yes, leaking classified documents is serious, many are calling Jake Teixeira a hero for pulling back the flimsy transparent curtain and revealing what we suspected all along.
Criticism about who can be trusted with national intelligence needs to ask themselves that question again.
Whom do you trust with critical information that affects the safety of our nation and our very own lives?
Those that know the information yet stay silent and continue to unconstitutionally engage in a war, risking killing us all in WWIII, but do nothing to stop it or correct the wrongs?
Do you truly trust the government that much?
“It’s to keep you safe,” they say.” Rep Majorie wrote.