Suspect in US intelligence scandal remains behind bars for the time being Lowest protection level S since the outbreak of the war

The suspect in the recent online leak of US intelligence documents has been ordered to remain in jail pending trial. A judge granted a request from the public prosecutor’s office on Friday.

US military IT specialist Jack Teixeira has been charged with unauthorized deletion, storage and transmission of classified and national defense information. He must therefore answer to a court in the US state of Massachusetts.

The prosecution had demanded that the early 20-year-old be apprehended. As early as September and October 2022, he was warned by his superiors and instructed not to make any more notes of classified information.

The reasoning goes that the suspect should have known that he was breaking the law when the secret information was distributed. His behavior is a clear indication that he would not meet the court’s requirements if he were allowed to leave prison.

Secret information about the war in Ukraine

The judge had to decide whether Teixeira’s temporary release could pose a threat to national security. “What the documents in our possession at this time show is that the defendant violated his pledge to protect the information and security of the United States and its allies to a high degree,” US media quoted him from the courtroom. It does not seem at all unlikely that a foreign government would make an offer to Teixeira for information.

Teixeira is suspected of having published highly confidential documents from the US secret services and the Ministry of Defense in a private chat room. From there, they would have continued to spread until authorities and the media became aware of them.

The classified information contained information about Russia’s offensive war against Ukraine, as well as details about alleged US spy operations against partners. Teixeira was arrested in April. He faces up to 25 years in prison.

(dsc/sda/dpa)