(The RedAlertNews.com) – NEWS ALERT: A 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, Jack Teixeira, was arrested on Thursday by federal authorities in connection with the leaking of classified documents on the internet.
FBI agents took Teixeira into custody “without incident,” announced Attorney General Merrick Garland, who added that the investigation is ongoing.
The leaked documents exposed hundreds of pages of intelligence about Russian efforts in Ukraine and spying on U.S. allies.
The Department of Defense is working with the intelligence community to understand the extent of these leaks. The classified documents, found online last month, revealed details of U.S. spying on Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine, secret assessments of Ukraine’s combat power, and intelligence gathering on America’s allies, including South Korea and Israel.
Teixeira’s arrest is related to allegations of unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information. He is an employee of the United States Air Force National Guard and will have an initial appearance at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Teixeira reportedly led a small online gaming group where the documents were first leaked. The Washington Post identified him as “OG.” It said the story’s primary source was a minor who was granted anonymity and was a member of the gaming group on the Discord platform.
The Post reviewed around 300 photos of classified documents that Teixeira allegedly leaked, most of which have not been made public.
President Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were briefed about the disclosure last week, and the White House first learned about the existence of the documents in the public domain then.
The Pentagon is leading an interagency effort to review any national security implications that might arise from the leaks, while the Department of Justice is leading a criminal investigation.
Some of the classified documents appear to have been altered from their original form. Biden administration officials have been contacting allies and partners at high levels to reassure them about the leaks.
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