Federal agents have successfully detained an Air National Guardsman in connection with the leak of dozens of secret Pentagon documents online. Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Thursday that Jack Teixeira, 21, was arrested in:
"connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information."
Teixeira was sitting on a chair on his porch while reading a book when law enforcement prepared to take him into custody. Footage from the WCVB-TV shows the scene:
Teixeira, is believed to be the leader of a private group on Discord called 'Thug Shaker Central'.
An array of secret and top secret military documents were leaked on social media platforms and exposed the spying efforts the US were making on allies and adversaries alike. Many of the documents were regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Analysts have assessed that the leaking of this intelligence online could put Ukrainian forces at a disadvantage.
The US Government has millions of employees, many of which are independent contractors, and reports suggest that there are over 1 million people with secret and top secret clearance in operation.
This not the first time serious leaks have come out of the US Government. Both Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning rose to prominence as a result of leaking sensitive intelligence outside the Government apparatus.
