Among other things, they reveal important details about Teixeira’s access to classified documents, his military career, and the timeline of events leading up to his April 13 arrest.
A 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts National Guard is charged with “unauthorized possession and transmission of national defense information” and “unauthorized removal and storage of classified documents or materials.”
Both charges together carry maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The documents that the suspect reportedly shared in the game’s online chat included details of military operations in Ukraine and US intelligence data on allies and adversaries around the world.
While U.S. authorities have yet to provide details about the investigation or the extent of the leak, the documents filed with the court provide insight into Teixeira’s life and how the leak allegedly happened.
We look at what the indictment shows.
First documents leaked in December
The criminal case against Teixeira includes affidavit drawn up by an FBI special agent specialized in counterintelligence and espionage.
In that statement, the agent claims that the netizen — with a username that was later linked to Teixeira via payment records — began posting what appeared to be “classified information” in December 2022.
According to the affidavit, the content was posted on a Discord chat server dedicated to discussing geopolitical issues.
In January, the text continues, photographs of documents were published that “contained what was classification marks on official documents government of the United States.”
An anonymous social media user identified as User 1 told the FBI that one of the documents released early on “described the situation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine,” including troop movements on a particular day.
The affidavit states that the document is “based on confidential US intelligence information obtained from classified sources and methods.”
The sworn letter stated that due to its being classified as “top secret”, it was assumed that its disclosure would cause “exceptionally serious harm” to national security.
User 1 also told the FBI that Teixeira was “afraid they would catch him transcribing texts at his workplace, so he began to carry documents to his home and take pictures of them“.
Photos of some of the leaked documents seen by the BBC appear to have been taken in a private home.
In some, the kitchen worktop and floor tiles are clearly visible, while in others, various personal items can be seen on the table.
Teixeira had access to information is treated as “top secret”
Court documents show that Teixeira enlisted in the Air National Guard in September 2019.
Currently holds the title E-3 / Airman First Class – a relatively low level – and in February was listed as a “Cyber Defense Operations Officer”.
In 2021, he was granted “top secret” security clearance and granted “confidential limited access” to other classified US government programs.
To obtain this permission, he had to sign a mandatory lifetime non-disclosure agreement “in which he would have to agree that unauthorized disclosure of protected information could lead to criminal prosecution.”
Mark Zaid, a national security lawyer who frequently handles classified information cases, told the BBC it was not unusual for a young man like Teixeira to have access to classified documents like those leaked into the network.
“A lot of people at this age have access to classified information, especially in the National Guard,” Zaid said.
“The question is rather why he was able to access documents that he probably did not need to know,” he added.
As an airman assigned to Cyber Transportation Systems, Teixeira was responsible for helping manage the Air Force’s global communications network.
According to Zaid, the role would have given him access to the World Alliance for Intelligence Communications Systems (JWICS), which he called the “information library” for US intelligence.
Looked at the word “filtering”
The criminal complaint also alleges that Teixeira searched his computer looking for intelligence information with the word “leaked” On April 6, the same day, the first information about the leaks was made public.
“Therefore, there is reason to believe that Teixeira was looking for classified information regarding US intelligence community reports on the identity of the leaker,” the document says.
Indictment under the Espionage Act
The allegations also indicate that Teixeira’s criminal charges fall partly under the Espionage Act.
In particular, his first position is in line with the law, which provides for imprisonment for up to 10 years, as well as penalties for those who “copy, subtract, create or receive; or attempt to copy, steal, create or obtain” various government documents.
This information, the statute says, “may be used to the detriment of the United States or to the benefit of any foreign nation.”
With additional reporting by Aiden Johnson in Washington DC.V.
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Source: La Opinion
Alfred Hart is an accomplished journalist known for his expert analysis and commentary on global affairs. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he provides readers with in-depth coverage of the most pressing issues affecting the world today. With a keen insight and a deep understanding of international politics and economics, Alfred’s writing is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in.