Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to sharing classified military documents related to the Ukraine war on Discord.
Boston Federal Court Judge Indira Talwani ruled that the disgraced 22-year-old former Massachusetts Air National Guard member will also be eligible for three years of supervised release once his sentence is complete.
The sentence follows Teixeira's guilty plea in March to six counts of knowingly retaining and transmitting national defense information related to an unprecedented security breach.
Federal prosecutors are seeking a maximum sentence of 200 months in prison, or more than 16 years, for Teixeira, arguing that the former cyber transportation systems engineer “committed one of the most serious and serious violations of the Espionage Act in American history.” did. ”
“Defendants, both as members of the U.S. military and as permit holders, are sworn to defend the United States and protect secrets vital to the national security of the United States and the physical safety of Americans serving abroad. '' the prosecutor told the judge. “Teixeira broke his oath almost every day for over a year.”
Lawyers for Teixeira, a native of North Dighton, Massachusetts, who joined the U.S. Air National Guard in 2019, argued for a minimum sentence of 11 years in prison, citing the leaker's post-arrest autism diagnosis and ADHD.
Teixeira's lawyer said: “Jack is essentially still a child, or at least a 'youthful offender', with his whole life ahead of him.” written in the judgment memo To Talwani.
Teixeira's lawyers described Teixeira as a loner who had no intention of “harming the United States” and whose only purpose was to “educate his friends about world affairs.”
“For Jack, the Ukraine war was World War II or Iraq for his generation, and he needed someone to share that experience with.” written by a lawyer.
Teixeira was arrested at his mother's home in April 2023 for his role in disclosing classified Pentagon documents detailing intelligence assessments of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Upon receipt,” the federal indictment states.
A former member of the Air National Guard's 102nd Intelligence Wing posted intelligence documents in a Discord chat room he dubbed “Thug Shaker Central.”
Mr. Teixeira admitted in court that he misused classified information to transfer classified information from a government computer network and to print and photograph classified information.
He was stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod when he began posting classified documents online in January 2022, according to the Justice Department.
This shocking breach of national security is believed to be the most serious since former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning leaked 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables to WikiLeaks in 2010. Ta.
“The damage the defendant has caused to national security by disclosing national defense information is extraordinary,” prosecutors said ahead of Monday's sentencing hearing. “Teixeira caused extremely significant damage to the national security of the United States by posting intelligence products on the social media platform Discord in order to stimulate his ego and impress anonymous friends.”
“The scope of his betrayal is breathtaking,” they added.
As part of his plea agreement, Teixeira was ordered to attend a conference with Pentagon and Justice Department officials and turn over any classified documents he may still have in his possession.
Apart from Teixeira military tribunal – scheduled for March – to be arraigned on charges of violating the Uniform Act of Military Justice.
with post wire
