Breaking: FBI raids home in North Dighton, Massachusetts, and arrests suspect of massive intelligence leak, Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira.
Update from DOD Briefing 2:13pmEST 4/13/2023
Catch up on the full story here: U.S. surveillance tactics exposed in leaked documents
Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Department of Defense Press Secretary, stated a recent leak was a “deliberate criminal act.”
However, Gen Ryder cautioned members of the media against disseminating the documents, as they have not been “de-classified” and may cause a “risk” to national security. He also stated the social media app Discord is “cooperating” with the Department of Justice.
The General compared the act to “locking your front door,” and a separate person breaking into your house. Adding, they followed procedures and are reviewing the matter internally.
Furthermore, they are doing “everything they can” to prevent similar situations in the future. Although when pressed for more information, he repeated the mantra, the DOD will not comment on ongoing investigations.
Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, Department of Defense Press Secretary, briefs members of the press on April 13, 2023.
Suspect in intelligence leak in custody
Major media outlets have reported Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira, 21, of the 102nd Intelligence Wing, being identified as a person of interest in the recent intelligence leak of classified documents. The New York Times claiming, “On Thursday afternoon, around a half-dozen rifle-carrying F.B.I. agents pushed onto the property of Airman Teixeira.”
The Airmen is thought to be a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, and is suspected of “an unauthorized disclosure” of classified documents. CNN purportedly has spoken to “friends” of the suspect, who claim he was “part of a chatroom of about two dozen people on Discord.”
Reports indicate the documents not only outlined intelligence collected on Russia, but the weaknesses identified in several U.S. allies. Because of the lack of transparency, the entirety of the situation has been cast in a murky light. However, two things are clear:
- Leaks of classified documents are considered criminal acts.
- The suspect is innocent until proven guilty.
