- Jack Texeira with the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was accused of leaking the highly classified military documents in April
- On Monday, the Air Force inspector general reported that multiple officials intentionally failed to take required action on his Texeira’s suspicious behavior.
The Air Force has disciplined 15 members of the Air National Guard after a ‘lack of supervision’ allowed Jack Texeira to share hundreds of classified documents on the social media platform Discord.
Jack Texeira, a first class airman with the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was accused of leaking the highly classified military documents from the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base.
The April disclosure was described as ‘one of the biggest leaks of US intelligence’ material in history. Texeira, who worked as a cyber defense operations journeyman, considered a low-ranking job, was charged with six counts of retaining and transmitting classified information.
An internal investigation revealed a ‘lack of supervision’ and a ‘culture of complacency’ in the massive classified documents leak that took place, the Washington Post reported.
On Monday, the Air Force Inspector General reported that multiple officials intentionally failed to take required action on his Texeira’s suspicious behavior.
Jack Texeira, 21, (pictured) worked as a cyber defence operations journeyman, considered a low-ranking job, was charged with six counts of retaining and transmitting classified information, the BBC reported
The US Department of Justice released photo evidence collected during the investigation into US Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira, who is accused of leaking classified documents online
The Inspector General alleged that his superiors failed to restrict his access to classified systems and facilities and to alert appropriate authorities during the time that he was alleged to have been illegally sharing government secrets.
He shared top secret military secrets he illegally collected from his intelligence unit with other Discord users, authorities said.
He carried this out allegedly by first typing out classified documents he accessed and then sharing photographs of files that bore SECRET and TOP SECRET markings.
The punitive actions range from relieving personnel from their positions, including command positions, to non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
It was revealed according to an Air Force report that officers were ‘aware of his intelligence-seeking activities’ and failed to stop him.
It also revealed that none of his supervisors knew the full extent of Teixeira’s online activities.
The National Guardsman allegedly posted secret memos in an Internet chat room that touched upon the war in Ukraine
An artist depiction shows Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Teixeira, right, appearing in U.S. District Court in Boston
Teixeira has been behind bars since his April arrest on charges stemming from the most consequential intelligence leak in years.
He is charged under the Espionage Act with unauthorized retention and transmission of classified national defense information.
He has pleaded not guilty, and no trial date has been set.
Prosecutors said in a court filing last week that the two sides have not yet engaged in ‘substantive’ plea discussions.
Teixeira enlisted in the Air National Guard in 2019.