According to court filings from US prosecutors, Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old US airman, has been accused of leaking classified files and displaying a “wilful disregard” for the protection of classified information. Prosecutors argued that he should remain in detention as he allegedly continued to leak files even after being warned by his superiors on two occasions in 2022. Teixeira has been in custody since his arrest by the FBI on April 14. He has been charged with the unauthorized transmission and retention of defense materials after classified files, including sensitive information about US allies and the war in Ukraine, appeared in an online chat room called Discord.
Prosecutors claimed that Teixeira’s superiors had flagged concerning actions regarding his handling of classified information. In one instance, he was observed taking notes and placing them in his pocket, leading his superiors to instruct him to stop taking any form of notes on classified information. A month later, his bosses discovered that he may have disregarded a cease-and-desist order by asking specific questions about a classified briefing. They advised him to focus on his job and stop deep diving into intelligence. In February 2023, Teixeira’s supervisors were notified when he was seen viewing intelligence information unrelated to his primary duty, though it is unclear if he faced disciplinary action.
Prosecutors argued against granting Teixeira bail, citing national security concerns. They claimed that he had boasted online about violating rules on classified information and expressed indifference toward regulations. They referenced his acknowledgment in December that he was “breaking a ton of UD regs” (unauthorized disclosure regulations), stating that he did not care about what he could or could not share. According to prosecutors, these posts demonstrate that Teixeira had no regard for government instructions and would not comply with court instructions either.
Teixeira’s defense lawyer argued that he should be allowed to remain in his home under the supervision of relatives, Air Force personnel, or lawyers. The defense denied that Teixeira posed a significant flight risk and criticized the prosecution’s speculation that foreign adversaries would exploit his release. A judge is expected to hear arguments and make a decision regarding Teixeira’s detention until his trial.
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