A young soldier was charged Friday by federal justice in the United States, suspected of being at the origin of the leak of a series of confidential American documents on the war in Ukraine, which puts Washington in the embarrassment. Jack Teixeira, 21, was presented in federal court in Boston (northeast) on Friday, where he appeared dressed in a beige prisoner jumpsuit. The Air National Guard recruit was charged with “unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information,” and “unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or materials,” according to a court document.
Facts punishable by ten years and five years in prison. Justice Minister Merrick Garland has promised to seek “very heavy sentences”. The young man was remanded in custody pending a new hearing scheduled for Wednesday. The day after his arrest, all eyes were on this young soldier, who allegedly took advantage of his position to distribute confidential and sensitive documents on operations in Ukraine to a private group on the Discord social network.
Since Thursday, the aerial images of his arrest in Dighton, a small rural town in Massachusetts, or his photo in uniform, looking a little frail, holding a cell phone in front of him, have been looping.
“Very serious risk”
The case also raises questions about possible security breaches and the possibility for a young recruit to have access to such documents. The confidential documents, some of which later circulated on Twitter and Telegram, reveal in particular US intelligence concerns about the viability of a Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian forces. They also suggest that Washington collect intelligence on its closest allies, including Israel and South Korea.
A most embarrassing affair for the government of President Joe Biden, who said he was “concerned that this happened” on Thursday. The National Guard said Jack Teixeira enlisted in September 2019, worked as a computer and communications specialist and achieved the rank of first class enlisted, the third lowest in the hierarchy. Jack Teixeira had had a “top secret” security clearance since 2021, according to an affidavit from an FBI agent in support of the prosecution.
A group made up of Russians and Ukrainians
“People who sign undertakings to receive classified documents recognize the importance to national security of not disclosing these documents. And we intend to send a message (to show) how important this is for our national security,” Merrick Garland said. The group, in which Jack Teixeira played the leading role under the pseudonym “OG”, was made up of around 24 people, including some from Russia and Ukraine. It was formed in 2020 around a mutual passion for firearms, military equipment and religion, according to the New York Times and the Washington Post.
“OG” had asked other members of the Discord group not to distribute the documents, assuring that he had no intention of being a whistleblower, according to the Washington Post. He was critical of the state – whose “abuse of power” he denounced -, the police and the intelligence community. According to the Washington Post, “OG” told other members of the group that he had access to “a secure facility” as part of his work.
An audit ordered by the Minister of Defense
The White House said Thursday that the United States was examining the “implications” of this leak “for national security”. Defense Minister Lloyd Austin announced on Thursday that he had ordered an “audit of access to our intelligence”. Dozens of photos of these documents have been relayed on Discord, but also Twitter and Telegram, some having undoubtedly circulated for weeks, if not months, before attracting the attention of the press.
However, US authorities have not publicly confirmed the authenticity of these documents posted online, and it has not yet been independently verified. Many of these documents are no longer available on the sites where they originally appeared.