FBI arrests suspect in connection with intelligence leaks

[BumRushDaShow]

Last edited Thu Apr 13, 2023, 04:46 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: CNN Politics

CNN -- A member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was arrested by the FBI on Thursday in connection with the leaking of classified documents that have been posted online, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday. The arrest of Jack Teixeira, 21, comes following a fast-moving search by the US government for the identity of the leaker who posted classified documents to a social media platform popular with video gamers.

Teixeira was arrested in Massachusetts without incident, Garland said, and will be arraigned in federal court there. "This investigation is ongoing. We will share more information at the appropriate time," the attorney general said, declining to answer questions. Teixeira will first appear in court on Friday in Boston, according to the US attorney's office there. The FBI said in a statement that it took Teixeira into custody "at a residence in North Dighton, Massachusetts, for his alleged involvement in leaking classified U.S. government and military documents."

"The FBI is continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the residence," the agency said. "Since late last week the FBI has aggressively pursued investigative leads, and today's arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing, and holding accountable those who betray our country's trust and put our national security at risk."

The leaked documents posted to social media, some of which have been obtained by CNN, included detailed intelligence assessments of allies and adversaries alike, including on the state of the war in Ukraine and the challenges Kyiv and Moscow face as the war appears stuck in a stalemate. Multiple US officials told CNN that Teixeira is believed to be the leader of the group where a trove of classified documents had been posted.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/13/politics/us-government-intel-leak/index.html

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Article updated.

Previous articles -

CNN -- A member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was arrested by the FBI on Thursday in connection with the leaking of classified documents that have been posted online, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday. The arrest of Jack Teixeira, 21, comes following a fast-moving search by the US government for the identity of the leaker who posted classified documents to a social media platform popular with video gamers.

Teixeira was arrested in Massachusetts without incident, Garland said, and will be arraigned in federal court there. "This investigation is ongoing. We will share more information at the appropriate time," Garland said, declining to answer questions. Teixeira was first identified by The New York Times ahead of his arrest Thursday as the leader of the group where a trove of classified documents had been posted.

The leaked documents posted to social media, some of which have been obtained by CNN, include detailed intelligence assessments of allies and adversaries alike, including on the state of the war in Ukraine and the challenges Kyiv and Moscow face as the war appears stuck in a stalemate.

The FBI had narrowed the number of people who they believe could be responsible for the leaks and have been conducting interviews in recent days, two people briefed on the matter said earlier. While there's a large number of people who had access to the documents, investigators have been able to home in on a small number for closer scrutiny thanks to the forensic trail left by the person who posted the documents. Investigators are working on building a case for prosecution, people familiar with the matter say. Earlier Thursday, President Joe Biden appeared to suggest that the US government was close to identifying the leaker.

CNN -- A member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was arrested by the FBI on Thursday in connection with the leaking of classified documents that have been posted online, according to a US official familiar with the matter. The arrest of Jack Teixeira, 21, comes following a fast-moving search by the US government for the identity of the leaker who posted classified documents to a social media platform popular with video gamers.

Teixeira had been identified by The New York Times ahead of his arrest Thursday as the leader of the group where a trove of classified documents was posted.

The FBI had narrowed the number of people who they believe could be responsible for the leaks and have been conducting interviews in recent days, two people briefed on the matter said earlier. While there's a large number of people who had access to the documents, investigators have been able to home in on a small number for closer scrutiny thanks to the forensic trail left by the person who posted the documents. Investigators are working on building a case for prosecution, people familiar with the matter say.

Another source familiar with the criminal investigation said that they expect it will move along much more quickly than the Pentagon's damage assessment of the leaks. Earlier Thursday, President Joe Biden appeared to suggest that the US government was close to identifying the leaker.

Original article/headline -

Arrest made in connection with intelligence leaks, source says

CNN -- A member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was arrested on Thursday in connection with the leaking of classified documents that have been posted online, according to a US official familiar with the matter. The arrest of Jack Teixeira, 21, comes following a fast-moving search by the US government for the identity of the leaker who posted classified documents to a social media platform popular with video gamers.

Teixeira had been identified by The New York Times ahead of his arrest Thursday as the leader of the group where a trove of classified documents was posted.

The FBI had narrowed the number of people who they believe could be responsible for the leaks and have been conducting interviews in recent days, two people briefed on the matter said earlier. While there's a large number of people who had access to the documents, investigators have been able to home in on a small number for closer scrutiny thanks to the forensic trail left by the person who posted the documents. Investigators are working on building a case for prosecution, people familiar with the matter say.

Another source familiar with the criminal investigation said that they expect it will move along much more quickly than the Pentagon's damage assessment of the leaks.

[dem4decades]

1. Life in prison.

[Traildogbob]

2. Wow

21 and could face death penalty…..for what? We have enemies within our military forces. Cheered on by people like Flynn. Probably inspired.

[Fiendish Thingy]

7. Death penalty for what?

He won’t be charged with Treason.

Max sentence for Espionage Act violations is 20 years.

[Warpy]

30. I'm going for young punk and dumbass for now

He deleted his accounts shortly after he posted the documents. It took weeks for some joker on 4chan to dig through deleted shit on Discord to find them. Likely this punk was trying to prove a point and used the documents to do it. It's whoever passed them around on 4chan who did the real damage. It still took 6 weeks from original idiot to Facebook level exposure.

The gummint is going to have to do a much better job of searching fringe sites, it will likely leak like a sieve until it does.

Should this stupid jerk do some hard time for espionage? You bet, if only to discourage other dumbass punks from doing the same thing on fringe sites while they're skyving and playing video games.

The DP is extreme and we're not at war, so it's espionage and not treason.

[Traildogbob]

32. I thought espionage

Was death. My mistake. Right, no treason, we are not at war technically. Neither were we in Iraq or Afghanistan. Hanssen got multiple life’s in solidarity 23 hours a day, for espionage. Still serving in Colorado. Probably sold less to Putin than trump has. He was “only” highest ranking FBI over counter terrorism. Not President though. A right/white wing Jeeebus nut. Word is this kid is a right wing Qber. Gonna do some finding out. Did the fucking around.
I think if you are active military and get convicted of espionage by the military court, there may be stricter sentencing.

[Warpy]

35. Yes, the military is likely to throw the book at him

as a warning to other young punks who want to play the "I know something you don't know" game while goofing off.

[Traildogbob]

36. More harshly than they

Do Flynn, I hope. Officers get privilege over enlisted I am sure. There are Lots of spare books laying around to throw lately.

[democrank]

3. If he is guilty, lock his ass up

for a very long time.

[LudwigPastorius]

4. Is this material that would typically be shared with a member of a National Guard intelligence unit?

I'm thinking somebody else gave him this stuff.

[getagrip_already]

5. looks like mommy will have a spare room to use....

He won't be needing it any longer.

She must be SO proud. Daddy too if he lives there.

[Miguelito Loveless]

6. Seems to be awfully sensitive data

to be available to some wet-behind-the-ears peon guardsman in Massachusetts.

[Fiendish Thingy]

9. Even file clerks have access to sensitive information. Nt

[Miguelito Loveless]

11. Yes, but I would hope someone would notice

them taking pictures of their computer screen. Perhaps even, and I know this is crazy, ban cameras from areas with classified data.

[Fiendish Thingy]

13. Cameras are banned

AFAIK, The photos were of printed documents, so I’m guessing he sneaked them out of the facility, took photos, then either destroyed or returned them.

[Miguelito Loveless]

14. Ah, thanks

I thought he took pics of a computer screen. Well, somewhat more intelligent in that he knew the printer could incriminate him. But, again, I would think access to printers is something that would be closely watched.

[Fiendish Thingy]

17. AFAIK, printing classified docs is easily traceable

Both via the network, and the document itself.

This may be why he was identified and arrested relatively quickly, even though the docs had been on the public server for a few months.

[LiberalFighter]

25. Would they have those documents printed at that location?

I wonder why documents like that would even be outside of the Pentagon?

[Jack the Greater]

8. In which sane world does a 21 year old in the Massachusetts Air National Guard have access to..,

... classified national documents?

[Fiendish Thingy]

10. If he's a file clerk? Nt

[flashman13]

18. Wait! What? There is something very wrong with this story. Lets forget about Teixeira for the moment

Why would any Guardsman, of virtually any rank, have access to any classified information regarding the Ukrainian war? Why would the Massachusetts National Guard have any of this classified information? I find it hard to believe that a 21 year old Guardsman could have high enough security clearance that would have allowed him to even handle such information i any capacity. Just a guess, but Teixeira the poster was probably not the original source of the information. We'll have to wait and see.

[FakeNoose]

23. Maybe he hacked some passwords and got in where he wasn't supposed to go?

I agree that this story doesn't add up. This kid spends a lot of time online apparently. Maybe he stole passwords or maybe somebody gave him access on the Q.T. There has to be more to this story.

[stopdiggin]

38. don't think so

apparently he was actually taking documents (paper copy) home, and then taking pictures of them to post ...

As to why he would have physical access .. ? You got me.

----- --- --- ------

[moniss]

20. I hope they lock him up and throw away

the key. Also in what sane world does a known con man and criminal have access to classified documents? We are so very far through the looking glass.

[BeyondGeography]

12. Too many traitors in uniform

Set an example with this little shit, please.

[Midnight Writer]

15. Hold on, here! Don't we first have to ask him if he has any documents, give him a few months to

check his closet? Don't we have to let him return them a few at a time? Negotiate the return with his legal team? Have we established what his intent was in allegedly taking documents? Maybe this was inadvertent or he was just taking them for souvenirs.

Let's not hurry into a reckless rush to judgement here.

[RussBLib]

19. you see no diff between an ex-pres and a 21-yr old?

them that's got money and "power" have another whole line of defense

[LiberalFighter]

26. Doesn't the kid have the power to declassify them with his mind?

[Traildogbob]

33. 😂😂😂

[orleans]

16. that little shit's parents must be so proud

on the condition that he *does* have parents.

or maybe he just crawled out from under a rock

[riversedge]

21. Air National Guard member, 21, is cuffed and led out of his mother's Massachusetts..............

He looks so so young. Yes, 21 is young but he looks like a freshmen in HS to me. Sad.

Link to tweet

?s=20

[stopdiggin]

22. heard a bit about this on the radio

and the truly gut wrenching thing about this - is that apparently there was no motivation or 'agenda' here at all (as far as espionage, political bent, anti-gov., monetary gain) - more on the order of a 'look at me!' goof ...

In other words, a 21 yr old f*ckwit - and his 'gamer' buddies. Playing silly games. And look at the damage they have unleashed.

[LiberalFighter]

28. There are people with no motivation except to be stupid.

[Traildogbob]

34. Don Jr?

[tanyev]

29. Seemed to me like he wanted to impress people with how important and smart he is.

[2live is 2fly]

24. Does the US Air Force engage in Religious Indoctrination? The 2-things in this country (for that

matter, any country) that are absolutely incompatable are Democracy & Religion! And the stupid thing is, they both rally around each other. If you have any doubts, just pick a church on the Sunday before 4th. of July.

You want to know the worst vision of Hell for a True, Honest to Goodness Real Democracy-Loving Patriot??? It's Heaven. If there were ever a bigger Dictator than God, I'd sure like to know WTH it is? Sorry for the major rant, LoL

[Demobrat]

27. What a sad, stupid thing to ruin your life over.

[republianmushroom]

31. He should ask trump for advise.

trump 26 months and counting.

[malthaussen]

37. But Donald Trump walks free.

Moral of the story: steal as many top-secret documents as you please, just don't post them on the internet.

Well, that's one of the morals, anyway.

-- Mal

[KewlKat]

39. What a mixed message, we can arrest this bastard for leaking secrets, but the effing FG, orange anus

still has many and we have no idea to what extent the damage he's done has and will cause......yes, all men are created equal in the eyes of the law...NOT

[Stuart G]

40. I wonder if the "dumbass" really thought that he could .."get away with doing this"?

He will spend the rest of his life in the slammer.