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FBI Apprehends 21 Year Old Air National Guard on Suspicion of Leaking Classified Documents

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On Thursday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested 21-year-old Jack Douglas Teixeira, a member of the U.S. Air National Guard, over the online leak of classified documents that embarrassed the United States and its allies worldwide. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that Teixeira’s arrest was in connection with an investigation into the alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information. Garland added that the investigation is ongoing and provided no further details.

 

The FBI agents arrested Teixeira at a residence in North Dighton, Massachusetts, without incident. A statement from the bureau emphasized their commitment to identifying, pursuing, and holding accountable those who betray the country’s trust and compromise national security. Videos played on news channels showed heavily armed officers escorting Teixeira, dressed in a gray T-shirt and red shorts, into a waiting car.

The leaked documents, which contained information about Ukrainian military vulnerabilities and details about allies such as Israel, South Korea, and Turkey, first appeared online in March but only gained widespread attention last week. This security breach is believed to be the most serious since WikiLeaks released over 700,000 documents in 2010.

 

Following a referral from the Department of Defense, the Justice Department opened a formal criminal probe last week. The Pentagon called the leak a “deliberate, criminal act” and has taken steps to review distribution lists and ensure that those receiving information have a need to know.

Reuters has reviewed more than 50 of the leaked documents, labeled “Secret” and “Top Secret,” but has not independently verified their authenticity. The total number of leaked documents is likely to exceed 100. President Joe Biden expressed concern about the leak but said he was not overly concerned, as there was no current information he was aware of.

Several countries have questioned the accuracy of some leaked documents, including Britain, which pointed to a “serious level of inaccuracy” in the information. U.S. officials believe most of the materials are genuine, but some seem to have been altered, showing inflated estimates for Ukrainian battlefield casualties and understated numbers for Russian forces.

 

The leaked documents also include assessments of France’s struggle to achieve security goals in West and Central Africa, information about Brazilian officials’ plans to visit Moscow to discuss a Ukraine mediation scheme, and a leaked Pentagon document suggesting Serbia has agreed to supply arms to Kyiv despite the country’s professed neutrality in the Ukraine war.

The New York Times first reported Teixeira’s identity, describing him as a National Guardsman who led an online group where members shared their love of guns, racist memes, and video games. The Justice Department has not yet announced the charges Teixeira will face, but they will likely involve criminal charges for willfully retaining and transmitting national defense information. Teixeira is expected to make his initial court appearance on Friday.