A U.S. Air Force National Guard employee, Jack Teixeira, has been arrested by the FBI in connection with the online leaks of classified U.S. documents, which have caused embarrassment for the Biden administration and its allies globally.
The documents apparently revealed that mainstream media sources and the U.S. government under President Joe Biden are misinforming the public by significantly overreporting Russian military casualties.
The documents also showed that the U.S. does in fact have military personnel on the ground in Ukraine, despite Biden’s claims otherwise.
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday stated that Teixeira was apprehended “in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information.”
The FBI confirmed the arrest and the ongoing “authorized law enforcement activity at a residence in North Dighton, Massachusetts.”
Teixeira, 21, is a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 102nd Intelligence Wing and was recently promoted to Airman First Class in July.
He allegedly managed a group called Thug Shaker Central on Discord, where more than 100 classified documents were initially shared on subjects such as Ukraine and intelligence gathered from spying on allies.
Some of the leaked documents contained sensitive details about Ukraine’s military capabilities and shortcomings, as well as information about U.S. allies like Israel, South Korea, and Turkey.
Garland confirmed the arrest, stating, “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.”
He also mentioned that Teixeira would make an initial appearance at the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts and could potentially face charges under the Espionage Act.
The arrest has come after a week of speculation about the identity and motivation of the person responsible for the leaks.
The Pentagon has referred to the leaks as a “deliberate, criminal act” and has since limited the distribution of its intelligence reports as the FBI worked on identifying the leaker through a digital trail and clues found in the shared photographs of intelligence documents.
The online group that Teixeira managed reportedly consisted of 20 to 30 members, including Ukrainians and foreign nationals.
Some of the leaked content was labeled “NOFORN,” meaning it is not intended to be shared with foreigners.
