US Airman Sentenced to 15 Years for Leaking Pentagon Documents

Photo : Reuters

Jack Teixeira, a former US Airman, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday for orchestrating one of the most significant leaks of classified Pentagon documents in over a decade. Teixeira, who served as an IT specialist with the Massachusetts Air National Guard, admitted to posting highly sensitive government information on the social media platform Discord. His actions led to the widespread dissemination of classified materials, sparking a major security breach.

The leaked documents, which Teixeira posted in early 2023, contained detailed information about US intelligence assessments, including concerns over Ukraine’s military capabilities in the face of Russian aggression. The documents also revealed that the US had been spying on allies, including Israel and South Korea. These leaks exposed vulnerabilities in US intelligence operations and raised alarms about the access granted to lower-level personnel to sensitive national security information.

In court, Teixeira expressed deep regret for his actions, stating, "I wanted to say that I'm sorry for all of the harm that I've brought and that I've caused, and that I don't think I can really sum up how contrite I am." His family members were present in court during the sentencing, underscoring the personal toll the case has taken on them.

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Teixeira, who was arrested in April 2023, pleaded guilty in March 2024 to six federal counts of willfully retaining and transmitting national defense information. These offenses occurred while he was on active duty, which meant he was subject to both federal law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. As a result, he will face a military trial in addition to the civilian sentencing.

The leak has been described as one of the most damaging breaches of classified information since the 2013 release of National Security Agency (NSA) documents by Edward Snowden. It raised serious concerns about the access granted to junior staffers within the military, and many questioned how someone with Teixeira’s level of clearance was able to obtain and distribute such sensitive material.

The leak not only embarrassed the US government but also strained its diplomatic relationships, as it exposed the inner workings of intelligence-gathering on foreign governments and military operations. As the investigation continues, the case underscores the growing challenge of safeguarding sensitive information in the age of social media and digital communication.