Pentagon secret leaker Jack Teixeira has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by a federal judge

BOSTON – A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard to 15 years in prison for leaking classified military documents about the war in Ukraine. Prosecutors say these actions endanger the country’s national security, endanger other military members and damage U.S. relations with Ukraine. allies.

Jack Teixeira had pleaded guilty in March to six charges of knowingly retaining and transmitting national defense information under the Espionage Act, nearly a year after his arrest for the most consequential breach of national security in years. He wore an orange jumpsuit in court and did not react as he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani.

“Today, Mr. Teixeira has paid a very high price for the laws he broke, for the incredible damage he caused,” Acting Massachusetts Attorney Josh Levy said afterward. “This important sentence sends a powerful message to any individual in possession of a top secret declaration. Anyone who deliberately threatens our national security by illegally disseminating classified information will face very serious consequences.”

Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the Boston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, told reporters that the sentence held Teixeira responsible for “one of the most prolific leaks of classified information in American history.”

“This former Air National Guardsman grossly betrayed our country and the oath he took to safeguard its secrets to boost his ego and impress his friends,” Cohen said. “This was not a victimless crime. The exceptionally serious damage he has caused will impact our national security for decades to come.”

The leaks exposed to the world revealed unvarnished secret assessments of Russia’s war in Ukraine, including information on troop movements in Ukraine and the delivery of supplies and equipment to Ukrainian forces. Teixeira also admitted to posting information about a U.S. adversary’s plans to harm U.S. troops serving abroad.

Outside court, Teixeira’s lawyer Michael Bachrach called it a “very difficult day” for his client and said Talwani had imposed a “very severe sentence”. Still, he said it was better than taking the case to trial, where Teixeira would spend 30 years to life behind bars.

“It is an important punishment that will deter others,” Bachrach said. “But it is also one that allows him to self-reflect and grow. And we fully expect him to do that.”

Before he was sentenced, Teixeira showed little emotion as he stood in court and apologized for his actions. The 22-year-old had previously admitted to illegally collecting some of the country’s most sensitive secrets and sharing them with other users on the social media platform Discord.

“I wanted to say I’m sorry for all the harm I caused and caused,” Teixeira said. “I understand that all responsibility and consequences fall solely on my shoulders and accept whatever that entails.”

Afterwards, Teixeira hugged one of his lawyers, looked at his family and smiled before being led out of the court. His family left without commenting to reporters, but his mother and others did submit letters to the court asking for leniency.

“I know that Jack deeply regrets his actions and is willing to accept punishment for his role in this situation,” his mother, Dawn Dufault, wrote. “While I understand the seriousness of his allegations and the importance of ensuring justice, I implore your Honor to consider Jack’s true nature and his unique challenges as I have observed over the years.”

The security breach raised alarm about the country’s ability to protect its best-kept secrets and forced the Biden administration to scramble to limit the diplomatic and military fallout. The leaks also embarrassed the Pentagon, which tightened controls to protect classified information and discipline members who had deliberately failed to take required action against Teixeira’s suspicious behavior.

Earlier in court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan told Talwani that 200 months — just over 16.5 years — was appropriate given the “historic” damage resulting from Teixeira’s failure to help America’s opponents and harming his allies. He also said such a punishment would send a message to anyone in the military who might consider similar behavior.

“It will be a cautionary tale for the men and women of the United States military,” Dolan said. “They will be told that this is what happens when you break your promise, when you betray your country. … They will know the name of the defendant. They will know what punishment the court will impose.”

But Bachrach told the judge on Tuesday that 11 years was enough and would amount to half of the 22-year-old’s life.

“It is an important, harsh and difficult sentence, which will not be easily served,” Bachrach said, adding that Talwani should take into account that his client has been diagnosed with autism.

Defense lawyers had described Teixeira as an autistic, isolated person who spent most of his time online, especially with his Discord community. They said his actions, while criminal, were never intended to “harm the United States,” and that he had no prior criminal record.

“Instead, his intention was to inform his friends about world events to ensure they were not misled by misinformation,” they wrote. “For Jack, the war in Ukraine was the Second World War or Iraq of his generation, and he needed someone to share the experience with.”

Prosecutors countered in court filings that Teixeira did not suffer from an intellectual disability and understood what he was doing was wrong. They wrote that his diagnosis of “mild, high-functioning” autism after the arrest was of “questionable relevance” to the proceedings.

Teixeira, from North Dighton, Massachusetts, was part of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. He worked as a cyber transportation systems specialist, which is essentially an information technology specialist responsible for military communications networks. He remains in an unpaid status with the Air National Guard, an Air Force official said.

Authorities said he first typed up classified documents he had gained access to and then began sharing photos of files marked SECRET and TOP SECRET. Prosecutors also said he tried to cover his tracks before his arrest, and authorities found a broken tablet, laptop and an Xbox gaming console in a dumpster at his home.