Jack Teixeira, a 22-year-old US Air National Guardsman, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking Pentagon documents, one of the most significant intelligence breaches in recent years.
Teixeira pleaded guilty in March to the deliberate retention and distribution of national defense information.
While stationed at an Air National Guard base, he accessed and shared sensitive materials, such as maps, satellite imagery, and intelligence on US allies, on a gaming-oriented online platform. Among the leaked documents were details about the conflict in Ukraine.
Prosecutors sought a 16.5-year sentence, arguing that Teixeira’s actions were a major violation of the Espionage Act. In contrast, his defense requested an 11-year term, citing his history of bullying in high school and military service, as well as his experiences with social isolation.
Judge Indira Talwani ultimately imposed a 15-year sentence, noting the seriousness of the crime while acknowledging Teixeira’s youth and potential future.
Teixeira apologized in court, accepting full responsibility for his actions.
The leak initially took place in a private Discord chatroom for gun and military enthusiasts but eventually spread to broader online platforms, including pro-Kremlin Telegram channels.
Teixeira, who had top-secret clearance as part of his role in the Massachusetts Air National Guard since 2019, had signed a lifetime non-disclosure agreement warning of criminal consequences for unauthorized disclosures.
This incident has led the Pentagon to review its protocols for managing classified information.
