Federal Judge Sentences Jack Teixeira to 15 Years for Espionage Act Violations
Prosecutors sought 17 years for ‘significant’ breaches of national security.
In a landmark case highlighting grave breaches in national security, Jack Teixeira, a 22-year-old member of the Massachusetts National Guard, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for leaking classified military documents. A federal court in Boston imposed the sentence after Teixeira pleaded guilty to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information, violating the Espionage Act.
Prosecutors sought a harsher 17-year sentence, describing Teixeira’s actions as one of the most serious violations of the Espionage Act in US history. They argued he betrayed his oath as a service member by sharing sensitive materials that compromised the safety of US forces and allies. The leaked documents, which included detailed information about military operations in Ukraine and sensitive intelligence about foreign nations, were shared on the messaging platform Discord.
Teixeira’s defense team requested a lighter sentence of 11 years, presenting their client as a misguided individual lacking any political motive or intent to collaborate with foreign powers. They portrayed him as someone wanting to share information with friends amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine, which he compared to significant historical conflicts.
Teixeira expressed remorse before the court, stating, “I wanted to say, ‘I’m sorry for all the harm that I brought and caused’.” He acknowledged the consequences of his actions and accepted full responsibility.
The case has raised serious questions about the US military’s capacity to protect sensitive information and posed ongoing challenges for the Biden administration as it navigated the diplomatic fallout from the leaks. Under the terms of his plea, Teixeira cannot face additional charges under the Espionage Act.
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