Anne Toulouse, with AFP 20:06 p.m., April 14, 2023

In the United States, a young soldier has just been indicted by the federal court for allegedly leaking a series of confidential documents about the war in Ukraine. Some of these documents were reportedly circulating on Twitter and Telegram, also suggesting that US intelligence would collect information about Israel.

A young soldier was indicted Friday by the federal justice in the United States, suspected of being behind the leak of a series of confidential American documents on the war in Ukraine, which embarrasses Washington. Jack Teixeira, 21, was brought before a federal court in Boston on Friday, where he appeared wearing a beige prison suit. The Air National Guard recruit was charged with "unauthorized retention and transmission of information relating to national defense," and "unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or materials," according to a court document.

Facts punishable by ten years and five years in prison. Justice Minister Merrick Garland has promised to seek "very heavy sentences". The young man has been remanded in custody pending a new hearing scheduled for Wednesday. The day after his arrest, all eyes were on this young soldier, who would have taken advantage of his position to disseminate on a private group of the social network Discord confidential and sensitive documents on operations in Ukraine.

Since Thursday, the aerial images of his arrest in Dighton, a small rural town in Massachusetts, or his photo in uniform, looking a little frail, holding a mobile phone in front of him, turn in loop.

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'Very serious risk'

The case also raises questions about possible security breaches and the possibility for a young recruit to have access to such documents. The confidential documents, some of which were later circulated on Twitter and Telegram, reveal in particular the concerns of the US intelligence services about the viability of a Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian forces. They also suggest that Washington collects intelligence on its closest allies, including Israel and South Korea.

A case of the most embarrassing for the administration of President Joe Biden, who had said Thursday "concerned that it happened". The National Guard said Teixeira enlisted in September 2019, worked as an IT and communications specialist and reached the rank of enlisted first class, the third lowest in the hierarchy. Jack Teixeira had a "top secret" security clearance since 2021, according to an affidavit from an FBI agent in support of the prosecution.

A group of Russians and Ukrainians

"Individuals who sign pledges to receive classified documents recognize the importance for national security of withholding these documents. And we intend to send a message (to show) how important this is to our national security," Merrick Garland said. The group, in which Jack Teixeira played the role of leader under the pseudonym "OG", consisted of about 24 people, including some from Russia and Ukraine. It was formed as early as 2020 around a mutual passion for guns, military equipment and religion, according to the New York Times and The Washington Post.

"OG" had asked other members of the Discord group not to release the documents, saying he had no intention of being a whistleblower, according to the Washington Post. He was critical of the state - whose "abuse of power" he denounced - the forces of law and order and the intelligence community. According to the Washington Post, "OG" told other members of the group that he had access to "a secure facility" as part of his job.

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An audit ordered by the Minister of Defence

The White House said Thursday that the United States was examining the "implications" of the leak "for national security." Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Thursday that he had ordered an "audit of access to our intelligence." Dozens of photos of these documents have been relayed on Discord, but also Twitter and Telegram, some of which have probably circulated for weeks, if not months, before attracting the attention of the press.

However, U.S. authorities have not publicly confirmed the authenticity of these documents posted online, and it has not yet been independently verified. Many of these documents are no longer available on the sites where they originally appeared.