FBI agents arrested 21-year-old American Jack Douglas Teixeira in connection with the alleged release of classified Pentagon data. The arrest was confirmed by the United States Attorney General, Merrick Garland.
Garland stated, “Today, the U.S. Department of Justice arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira in connection with the unauthorized extraction, storage, and distribution of classified national defense information,” and noted the apprehension occurred without incident.
According to reports, Teixeira was located at his home in North Daytona by law enforcement personnel.
The individual is a member of the National Guard, Air Force, and was described as residing in Massachusetts. He is expected to appear in district court as reported by multiple outlets. Investigators noted that Teixeira entered service in 2019 and worked in the field of communications, while the FBI continues investigative work at the arrested person’s residence.
Garland added, “This investigation remains active. More information will be released as it becomes available.”
CNN reported that the detainee will appear in court on April 14.
The New York Times reported that the detained service member allegedly led an online group that posted classified Department of Defense documents. The group, described as “Thug Shaker Central” on the Discord platform, is said to have between 20 and 30 members, with authorities still working to identify any specific suspects.
data leak
The leaked documents began circulating online in late February or early March. The spread drew attention only after U.S. media highlighted the materials. It is claimed that more than 100 documents may have been exposed, with significant potential damage attributed to the disclosure.
The materials include information about the surveillance of senior allied officials by American intelligence agencies, plans from Ukrainian authorities, and assessments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, along with alleged insights into Moscow’s intentions as part of a broader operation. Reports also touched on incidents related to China’s military capabilities, including tests in February of a hypersonic glide vehicle associated with the DF-27 ballistic missile, purportedly capable of reaching 10,500 kilometers per hour.
U.S. military intelligence has assessed a high likelihood that the DF-27 could challenge existing missile defenses, with a limited deployment expected to begin in 2022. Preliminary analyses suggested the hypersonic glide traveled for about 12 minutes and covered roughly 2,100 kilometers, according to a document classified as top secret.
The White House has declined to confirm the authenticity of the leaked documents, and officials indicated they are not ready to share an official account of how the information surfaced or who was responsible. RIA Novosti noted that the president’s administration emphasized a focus on facts rather than a rush to judgments about the incident.
The Pentagon has labeled the leak a deliberate crime and has begun an assessment of the scope and potential damage. Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder announced the location of the incident on April 13 and confirmed ongoing investigations into the scale of the leak.
There were claims that the leak prompted Kyiv to alter certain military plans, though Ukrainian officials stated that the leaked materials had not affected the front lines or policy decisions. Mikhail Podolyak, an adviser to President Zelensky’s office, described the leak as having no operational significance in a Wall Street Journal interview.
Meanwhile, reports from The Guardian examined some of the leaked documents and suggested that NATO forces may have operated on Ukrainian soil, with estimates ranging up to around 50 personnel. The Kremlin responded cautiously, noting uncertainty about the documents but acknowledging that training and personnel from NATO countries may have been involved. Ukrainian defense officials disputed the presence of a formal NATO force in Ukraine, while emphasizing official military representation across embassies.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner Group, speculated that the secret Pentagon materials had been leaked intentionally to spark specific questions. He discussed this viewpoint after a meeting with representatives of Wagner’s intelligence and analysts focusing on U.S. affairs, suggesting there would be a more detailed analysis in the near future.