Scheduled to commence his court-martial on additional charges on Monday is Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. Last year, he pleaded guilty to leaking highly classified military documents concerning the war in Ukraine online.
Teixeira’s guilty plea in March included six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act. This occurred following his arrest, which was deemed the most significant national security breach in years. In November, he received a 15-year prison sentence, a decision that was referred to by then-Attorney General Merrick Garland as a demonstration of the importance of safeguarding the nation’s secrets and the well-being of its citizens.
During his court-martial, Teixeira is confronting charges related to disobedience of orders and obstruction of justice. Military prosecutors argued during a hearing last year that a court-martial is warranted since compliance with orders lies at the heart of military service. Conversely, Teixeira’s defense team contended that further legal proceedings would essentially equate to double jeopardy.
Afterward, Teixeira hugged one of his attorneys, looked toward his family and smiled before being led from court. His family left without commenting to reporters, but his mother and others submitted letters to the court seeking leniency.
″I know Jack deeply regrets his actions and is ready to accept his punishment for his part in this situation,” his mother, Dawn Dufault, wrote. “While I understand the severity of his charges and the importance of ensuring justice, I implore you, Your Honor, to consider Jack’s true nature and his unique challenges, as I have observed over the years.”
The security breach raised alarm over the country’s ability to protect its most closely guarded secrets and forced the Biden administration to scramble to try to contain the diplomatic and military fallout. The leaks also embarrassed the Pentagon, which tightened controls to safeguard classified information and disciplined members found to have intentionally failed to take required action about Teixeira’s suspicious behavior.
Former FBI Director Chris Wray said in November that “Teixeira’s criminal conduct placed our nation, our troops, and our allies at great risk.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy addresses the media after the sentencing of Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
“The FBI will continue to work diligently with our partners to protect classified information and ensure that those who turn their backs on their country face justice,” Wray said.
Teixeira, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, was part of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. He worked as a cyber transport systems specialist, which is essentially an information technology specialist responsible for military communications networks. He remains in the Air National Guard in an unpaid status, an Air Force official told the Associated Press.
Authorities said he first typed out classified documents he accessed and then began sharing photographs of files that bore SECRET and TOP SECRET markings.
Prosecutors also said Teixeira tried to cover his tracks before his April 2022 arrest. Authorities found a smashed tablet, laptop and an Xbox gaming console in a dumpster at his house.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
