US Airman Sentenced to 15 Years for Leaking Classified Documents on Military Surveillance

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BOSTON: A former US airman, Jack Teixeira, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday for leaking classified military documents that exposed covert surveillance of Washington’s European allies. Teixeira, 22, pleaded guilty in March to violating US anti-espionage laws in what prosecutors called "one of the most significant breaches" of national security.

The sentencing, held before Judge Indira Talwani in Boston, came after Teixeira admitted to distributing hundreds of highly sensitive documents online through the Discord messaging app. These documents, shared over a year, revealed classified intelligence regarding US surveillance activities.

During the hearing, Teixeira expressed regret for his actions, apologizing to the court. "I’m sorry for all of the harm that I’ve brought and that I’ve caused," he said.

Judge Talwani, acknowledging Teixeira’s prior training on handling sensitive materials, criticized his actions, pointing out that despite clear warnings about the risks of leaking classified information, Teixeira continued to share the documents on the internet. "The fact that others did not do more to stop you is truly unfortunate," she remarked.

Teixeira, who had been in custody since his April 2023 arrest, pled guilty to six counts related to the unauthorized retention and transmission of classified information. His disclosure of the documents to an online gaming group on Discord sparked an international security scandal.

In addition to his prison sentence, Teixeira has agreed to resolve separate military charges involving obstruction of justice and disobedience of orders, as confirmed by his defense attorney, Michael Bachrach. The US Air Force, however, has not yet confirmed whether a deal has been reached, though Teixeira faces a court-martial in March.