The Department of Justice (DOJ) is requesting that a judge keep Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira in custody, as they believe he could inflict significant harm by disclosing additional classified documents. According to court documents, the DOJ’s attorneys argue that releasing Teixeira while he awaits trial would endanger U.S. national security, given that investigators have yet to determine whether he retained any classified documents, some of which may not have been publicly disclosed.
“There simply is no condition or combination of conditions that can ensure the Defendant will not further disclose additional information still in his knowledge or possession. The damage the Defendant has already caused to the US national security is immense. The damage the Defendant is still capable of causing is extraordinary,” prosecutors stated.
Prosecutors are concerned that Teixeira may still possess information that could be beneficial to foreign adversaries, as he has had access to a large amount of classified information, which could be of significant value to countries hostile to the US. These foreign countries could offer him safe haven and assistance in evading the authorities.
Teixeira’s defense team has suggested that they may seek his release to his father’s home, but they have not yet filed a motion requesting this.
NEWS: Jack Teixeira, the low-level IT specialist with high-level security clearance who leaked dozens of sensitive documents, wrote on social media that he wanted to kill a "ton of people" and researched mass shootings online.
— Really American 🇺🇸 (@ReallyAmerican1) April 27, 2023
Prosecutors are currently arguing that he should not… pic.twitter.com/WEkma8Kp4P
On April 13, 2023, Teixeira was arrested by the FBI for leaking classified military documents. He has been charged with violating the Espionage Act, a law that prohibits Americans from interfering in military operations or providing support to foreign nations during times of war.
Teixeira is under suspicion of disseminating a large number of classified Pentagon documents related to national security and the conflict in Ukraine on the gaming app Discord, over the course of seven months.
According to The New York Times, a user with a profile that corresponds to Teixeira’s purportedly started sharing classified documents on a chat server in February 2022.
Federal prosecutors contend that Teixeira’s detention must continue since he poses a threat to society. They argue that he is dangerous due to his possession of multiple weapons and his frequent participation in “disturbing conversations about violence and murder” on Discord.
In addition, prosecutors disclosed that during high school, Teixeira was suspended after a classmate overheard him discussing Molotov cocktails and other weaponry.
Teixeira is 21 years old. He was in high school less than 3 years ago. What exactly did the background investigators do?
— Pete Strzok (@petestrzok) April 27, 2023
“the Defendant was suspended in high school based on concerning comments the Defendant made about Molotov cocktails and other weapons” https://t.co/bOaMtJ9FVS pic.twitter.com/1d7FoKF3Mb
As of now, investigators have not disclosed a potential motive behind the document leaks. Members of the Discord chat server that Teixeira was part of have referred to him as a “show-off,” rather than someone driven by political or ethical considerations.
The leaks have caught the military community off-guard and sparked a global backlash, causing concerns about the ability of the US government to safeguard its classified information.
