WASHINGTON – Jake Teixeira, 21-year-old airman Alleged leak of secret Pentagon recordsshared sensitive information with people in foreign countries and repeatedly told his online associates that he was violating signed military regulations, federal prosecutors argued in a new court filing.
Prosecutors asked the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts to detain Teixeira pending trial, saying foreign adversaries would “benefit” from the possibility of helping him evade the U.S. government. Teixeira’s lawyers submitted their own file to the court seeking his release.
Teixeira was arrested Charged last month including the unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information, and the unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents. He was taken into custody days after hundreds of classified US documents began circulating online, revealing US secrets about the wars in Ukraine, China, Taiwan and more.
Prosecutors said in their new memo that Teixeira, contrary to the defense’s claims, did not share sensitive government information with only a very small group, “posting classified information directly to multiple servers on social media platforms over several months, including at least 150 active users on one server at the time.” .
“Among those with whom the defendant shared official information were individuals who represented that they resided in other countries and who logged into social media platforms using foreign IP addresses,” prosecutors said.
The filing contained an online exchange by Teixeira on January 4, 2023, in which he mentioned all the different countries and territories about which he could access government information.
Teixeira: There will be a lot of information…
Teixeira: This may be irrelevant, but it’s not just Ukraine that I cover
Teixeira: I have things for Israel, Palestine, Syria, Iran, China
Teixeira: DPRK, ROK
Teixeira: I don’t usually cover South America that much
Teixeira: Before the war I was assigned to collect intelligence in the Middle East
“In the same chat, the defendant clarified his understanding of the illegality of his disclosures, adding that ‘none of this is public information,'” the prosecutor wrote. “The defendant previously admitted on the social media platform that he had to sign a non-disclosure agreement for the information he had access to.”
The government said Teixeira was admonished by his military supervisors to take notes or view content on two separate occasions in September and October 2022.
Prosecutors cited a video published by The Washington Post showing Teixeira using racial and ethnic slurs while firing at a target, alleging that Teixeira’s true character was not what he portrayed to the government when he was hired.
In December 2022, Teixeira reportedly admitted to his online colleagues that he was “breaking a ton of (unauthorized disclosure) rules”, but said, “I can’t or can’t share what they say.” Prosecutors included a copy of a document that Teixeira completed training on unauthorized disclosure of classified information.
“Continuing to post classified information despite the fact that the defendant was aware that he was violating the law and was admonished several times by his superiors, is a clear indication that this court will not hesitate to avoid any restrictions imposed on him. Restrictions if he finds it in his interest.” think,” prosecutors said.
“Her own posts make it clear that she doesn’t care what her government or her superiors tell her or what she can’t share, and the government claims that she will pay no attention to whatever conditions the court imposes,” the government continued. kept “Furthermore, his efforts to prevent and conceal his illegal activities while having a classified privilege base are at odds with any notion that he will not find ways to evade the restrictions imposed on him at home – perhaps aided by one of the many foreign adversaries and threat actors who undoubtedly would salivate at the prospect of helping him evade US jurisdiction.”
In arguing for Teixeira’s release, his attorneys noted that he “was at his mother’s home and peacefully submitted to arrest upon the arrival of law enforcement” and suggested Teixeira was unlike other individuals charged under the Espionage Act.
Teixeira faces significant prison time if convicted, prosecutors said.
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Catherine Watson
