Massachusetts National Guardsman Jack Teixeira Receives 15-Year Sentence

Massachusetts Guardsman Sentenced to 15 Years for Espionage

BOSTON (AP) — In a striking national security case, Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking highly classified military documents regarding the war in Ukraine. The 22-year-old pleaded guilty earlier this year to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act.

Appearing in U.S. District Court on Tuesday, Teixeira expressed remorse, stating, “I wanted to say I’m sorry for all the harm that I brought and caused.” U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani emphasized the serious nature of Teixeira’s actions, which allowed adversaries to access vital information and jeopardized U.S. allies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan highlighted the need for a substantial sentence to deter similar conduct within the military. He referred to the case as a "cautionary tale" for other servicemen.

Teixeira’s defense attorney, Michael Bachrach, argued for an 11-year sentence, asserting that it would serve as an effective deterrent for young service members. He characterized Teixeira as an isolated individual who sought to share information with friends, rather than intending to cause harm. However, prosecutors countered that Teixeira’s mental capacity, diagnosed post-arrest as “mild, high-functioning” autism, did not excuse his actions, insisting he understood the implications of his offenses.

Teixeira, who worked as a cyber transport systems specialist within the Air National Guard, had previously shared sensitive military documents on the social media platform Discord, exposing critical assessments of troop movements and support for Ukrainian forces. Following his arrest, the Biden administration took swift actions to mitigate the fallout, tightening protocols to safeguard classified information.

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