Boston, Massachusetts – In a groundbreaking turn of events, Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman, confessed on Monday to being responsible for one of the most significant leaks of national defense secrets in recent years. Teixeira, aged 22, reached an agreement to accept a 16-year prison sentence. This sentence could potentially be the longest in a case involving the unlawful retention of classified information.
In a plea deal filed with the court, Teixeira admitted guilt to all six counts he faced, which involved the willful retention and transmission of national defense information. As part of the agreement, prosecutors agreed not to add any charges under the Espionage Act.
Teixeira was reported to have accessed and printed numerous classified documents, sharing images of them on Discord before his arrest in April. During a hearing at the federal court in Boston, a prosecutor revealed these details to the court as Teixeira pleaded guilty.
Appearing in court in restraints and an orange jumpsuit, Teixeira exchanged smiles with his father before standing before the judge. He acknowledged the charges against him, confirming his understanding of the potential 16-year sentence during the court proceedings.
Furthermore, Teixeira will be required to engage in a debrief with both the Defense Department and the Justice Department as part of his plea agreement. This process also includes surrendering any remaining sensitive materials in his possession.
Teixeira’s sentencing is scheduled for September 27. It was noted that despite his low-level role which did not necessitate access to classified information, Teixeira deliberately obtained hundreds of classified documents within the secure facility where he worked, actively disregarding warnings from superiors.
Prosecutors pointed out that Teixeira shared information about a foreign adversary’s compromise of U.S. company accounts, details about U.S. equipment being sent to Ukraine, as well as troop movements in Ukraine. Teixeira, who was initially arrested at 21 years old, had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him in June 2023.