Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of leaking classified Pentagon documents, pleaded not guilty to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information in a Worcester federal court on Wednesday. Teixeira, dressed in orange jail attire, entered his plea after each charge was read, stating "Not guilty, your honor." He acknowledged family members present in the courtroom.
Teixeira's arrest stems from suspicions that he shared highly classified military documents concerning the war in Ukraine and other national security matters within a Discord chat room. He was apprehended on April 13th and indicted by a federal grand jury the following week.
The defense's request to reconsider Teixeira's detention order was denied. A judge previously ruled that he should remain incarcerated throughout the legal proceedings due to flight risk and potential obstruction of justice. Teixeira possessed top-secret security clearance, granting him access to the sensitive information he allegedly leaked.
FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the gravity of the situation, highlighting the breach of trust involved in mishandling classified information. The leaked documents reportedly revealed sensitive assessments related to the war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of various nations, and other national security concerns.
Reports indicate that Teixeira had been previously instructed to cease accessing classified intelligence information outside his assigned duties. He faces potential penalties exceeding a decade in prison and a substantial fine if convicted.
