Jack Teixeira, the Massachusetts Air National Guard member accused of leaking classified Pentagon documents on social media, was denied pre-trial release for the second time on Friday.
US District Court Judge Indira Talwani upheld a previous magistrate judge’s ruling that Teixeira be held in custody pending trial, according to reports.
Teixeira, 21, has been in jail since his arrest in April. He pleaded not guilty to six counts of knowingly storing and transmitting national military information. He faces up to 60 years in prison.
Teixeira’s lawyers argued that their client posed no risk if released, and pointed to the release of other suspects who have been accused of leaking classified documents, including former president Donald Trump.
But Talwani cited claims that Teixeira scoured classified military networks for information about domestic mass shootings.
Jack Teixeira, the Air National Guard member accused of leaking classified documents, was denied a second pre-trial release on Friday. via REUTERS
A police officer patrols outside the federal courthouse during an appearance by suspected Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira.REUTERS
“When Teixeira spoke to other participants on his social media platforms, he displayed a horrific interest in violence and disregard for human life,” the judge wrote.
“The court also cannot reject the government’s evidence that Teixeira has a disturbing interest in mass violence,” Talwani continued. “Teixeira’s social media messages display both an affinity for violence and violence for certain groups.”
He also pointed to evidence the government believes is still missing, noting that if released, Teixeira could have a chance to prevent the case.
Jack Teixeira pleaded not guilty to six counts of leaking classified Defense Department files.AP
Teixeira is suspected of leaking classified Defense Department documents on Discord, a social media platform used primarily by online gamers, after he allegedly obtained them while serving in the Massachusetts Air National Guard. The highly classified document includes a detailed intelligence assessment of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Teixeira enlisted in the US Air National Guard in 2019 and was granted a top-secret security clearance in 2021, the Justice Department previously said.
He worked as a cyber transportation systems explorer for the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 102nd Intelligence Wing and was stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod during the time he was accused of leaking national security secrets.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
