A 21-year-old US Army National Guard member has been arrested on charges of leaking highly classified information. The leak has raised fresh concerns about the country's ability to protect its most sensitive secrets. The Pentagon has promised to tighten security measures, and officials are under pressure to explain why a young and low-ranking service member had access to such files.
The material was shared on a chat group called Thug Shaker Central, which was based on the instant messaging social media app, Discord. The group had about 25 members who shared their favorite types of guns and memes - some of which were racist.
Although the motive for the leak is unclear, some members of the chat group have claimed that the soldier was driven by bravado rather than ideology. The IT specialist was responsible for protecting military communication networks and had a high level of security clearance.
The classified documents included briefing slides mapping out Ukrainian vulnerabilities and military positions, as well as information on the circumstances where Vladimir Putin might use nuclear weapons. Information about allies including Israel, South Korea, and Turkey was also included. US officials believe most of the materials are genuine.
Mike Turner, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, has pledged to "examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks." The Pentagon, which called the leak "a deliberate, criminal act," says the military is reviewing distribution lists and ensuring that only people who need to know classified information receive it.
The New York Times had first reported the identity of the young guardsman, and federal officials later confirmed he was a subject of interest in the investigation. News crews in helicopters later filmed his arrest in Massachusetts.
Teixeira may face charges in military court and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Brandon Van Grack, a former prosecutor, has suggested that the soldier could face the higher end of exposure for years in prison because the leaks were so damaging.
President Joe Biden, speaking on his three-day tour of Ireland, said he was concerned that it happened but was not aware of anything contemporaneous. The FBI said in a statement, "Since late last week, the FBI has aggressively pursued investigative leads - and Thursday's arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing and holding accountable those who betray our country's trust and put our national security at risk."