Next week, it’s expected that the Massachusetts Air National Guardsman, accused of leaking classified military documents to an online server, will plead guilty to federal charges, prosecutors revealed in a court motion filed on Thursday.
Jack Teixeira, previously pleading not guilty to six charges of willful retention and transmission of national defense information, now appears to have struck a plea deal, as per a source familiar with the case cited by The New York Times. The specific terms of the agreement and the charges to which Teixeira will plead guilty remain undisclosed.
Since his arrest last April, the 22-year-old has been in federal custody, labeled a “serious” flight risk by prosecutors. They allege that Teixeira began erasing his digital footprint after the breach was detected and the initial report by The New York Times was published. A judge agreed with prosecutors, fearing that Teixeira might continue obstructing the case if released, particularly noting his unsettling interest in weapons and violence.
According to reports from Boston station WCVB, Teixeira’s social media interactions revealed a disturbing fascination with violence and a disregard for human life. Serving as a cyber transport systems specialist in the Air National Guard since 2019, he obtained top-secret security clearance in 2021. Authorities believe Teixeira started sharing classified information on Discord as early as December 2022, progressing to posting actual documents in the subsequent month.
The leaked documents contained intelligence on North Korea, Israel, and Russia’s actions in Ukraine, including military assessments and details on arms shipments to Kyiv, according to the Justice Department. While Teixeira was directly involved in the leak, an Air Force inspector general’s report from late last year also criticized his superiors for failing to properly supervise him despite earlier warning signs.
Federal prosecutors have requested a Rule 11 hearing, scheduled for March 4, to discuss the change of plea. The court has approved the motion, signaling a significant development in this ongoing legal case.
