Suspect Remains in Custody for Leaked US Intelligence Documents
The suspect in the case of leaked US intelligence documents will remain in custody until the start of his trial. The National Guardsman is still a potential threat to national security, a court has ruled.
Federal Judge Grants State Prosecutor’s Request
In the case of US intelligence documents leaked online, the federal judge in Massachusetts has granted the state prosecutor’s request for the 21-year-old IT specialist of the National Guard, Jack Teixeira, to remain in custody until his trial.
Teixeira is accused of the unauthorized removal, storage, and transmission of classified material and information related to national defense.
Teixeira is suspected of publishing highly classified US intelligence agency and Pentagon documents in a closed chatroom on the Discord platform. The documents spread from there until authorities and the media became aware of them. Teixeira was arrested in April and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
The leaked documents contained information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as details about alleged US espionage activities against partners.
Suspect Allegedly Continued Despite Warnings
The prosecution also accuses him of having been warned and instructed by his superiors in September and October 2022 on not taking any notes on classified material. The prosecution argues that the suspect must have known that he was violating the law when he distributed classified material. His behavior is a clear indication that he would not comply with court requirements if he were released from custody.
The judge had to decide whether releasing Teixeira temporarily could pose a threat to national security. “What the documents that are currently before us show is that the defendant has broken his promise to protect the information and security of the United States and its allies in a highly significant way,” US media quoted the judge from the courtroom. It does not seem unlikely that a foreign government would offer Teixeira a deal to obtain information.
Teixeira’s defense had asked for their client’s release. He no longer has access to classified documents and can remain in the custody of his father until his trial.
