Billing records and social media information helped FBI agents identify Massachusetts National Guard soldier Jack Teixeira, who is suspected of leaking classified US intelligence data. This was reported by the Associated Press with reference to court materials.
On April 14, 21-year-old Jack Teixeira appeared in court on charges of unauthorized seizure, concealment and transfer of classified information important to US national security.
The judge ordered that the suspect remain in custody until the next hearing next week. According to CNN, the accused faces 10 years in prison.
Teixeira came to court handcuffed and wearing a brown prison uniform. His lawyer was present at the hearing with him.
Just hours earlier, war-equipped FBI agents had arrested Teixeira at her home in North Daytona.
“Today, the U.S. Department of Justice arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira in connection with an investigation into the unauthorized seizure, storage and distribution of classified national defense information,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.
The New York Times claims that the detainee served in the Massachusetts National Guard and in his spare time led the online group Thug Shaker Central on the Discord platform. In this way, confidential data entered the Network. A chat group consists of 20 to 30 users. Basically, TSC participants discussed weapons, posted memes and jokes, and discussed international conflicts, including Russia-Ukraine.
At the same time, Teixeira leaked classified data “not based on ideological beliefs, but boldly guided,” according to the Associated Press.
The documents went online in late February and early March. At the same time, the leak went undetected until the American media drew attention to the classified documents. It has been claimed that more than 100 documents may have been made public.
The documents contain information about the surveillance of high-ranking officials from the allied countries by the American intelligence agencies, the plans of the Ukrainian authorities and the state of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as the alleged intentions of Moscow in the framework of military operations. Ukraine
As an IT professional, Teixeira was able to access confidential information.
The White House declined to comment on the authenticity of the published documents. The administration of US President Joe Biden noted that they are not yet ready to come up with a version of who and how “leaked” the intelligence materials.
The Pentagon concluded that the leak was a “deliberate crime”. The division’s position was given on April 13 by Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder. According to him, the US Department of Defense is assessing the extent of the leak and its potential damage.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement after the arrest that the Pentagon would review “procedures for access to intelligence, accountability and control” to prevent such a leak from happening again.