BREAKING

Suspect in Pentagon leaked documents to appear in court on Friday

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 Apr 2023 20:20

The 21-year-old US Air Force National Guard member was arrested on Thursday at his house in Dighton, Massachusetts, by heavily armed FBI agents.

This image made from video provided by WCVB-TV, shows Jack Teixeira, in T-shirt and shorts, being taken into custody by armed tactical agents on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Dighton, Mass (WCVB-TV via AP)

The Office of the US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts said on Friday that the suspected leaker of the Pentagon's classified document, Jack Texeira, is due to appear today in a federal court in Boston, Massachusetts, at 10 am local time (14:00 GMT).

"Jack Teixeira will appear in federal court in Boston at 10 am today in courtroom 18," a spokesperson from the US Attorney’s Office in Boston said.

The 21-year-old US Air Force National Guard member was arrested on Thursday at his house in Dighton, Massachusetts, by heavily armed FBI agents.

He is suspected of leaking classified government and military documents and is likely to face criminal charges. If convicted, Texeira could face up to 10 years in prison.

On Thursday, the FBI arrested Teixeira for his alleged involvement in leaking classified US government and military documents.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed that US law enforcement arrested a military service member as a suspect in connection with a leak of classified defense information online.

"Today, the Justice Department arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information," Garland said during a press conference.

The Washington Post published an exclusive piece late Wednesday that presented a description of the guy behind the leaks, and provided insight into how the disclosures came to be. The story was based mostly on the information given by a minor who first met the leaker online four years ago in a Discord server for fans of the YouTuber Oxide.

Teixeira is expected to face Espionage Act charges since Attorney General Merrick Garland previously stated that the military man was detained for allegedly "unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information."

Teixeira's first court appearance is slated on Friday in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

The media frenzy has shifted the attention to the alleged leaker and away from the damning documents - which include information on Ukraine, China, and the Middle East.