The young American soldier indicted for leaking confidential documents, including on the war in Ukraine, in an online forum pleaded not guilty Wednesday, June 21.
Jack Teixeira, 21, an Air National Guard recruit, was arrested in April. Based at a base on Cape Cod, near Boston, where he held a role as a computer and communications specialist, he is accused of posting classified information on a discussion group of the social network Discord, which later circulated on other social networks.
He faces six charges of possession and dissemination of national defence information. Each of them is liable to up to 10 years in prison.
The young man appeared before a judge Wednesday in Worcester, Massachusetts, and pleaded not guilty according to court documents. His lawyer asked that he be released pending trial, which the magistrate refused.
Embarrassment
The images of the arrest of Jack Teixeira by the federal police outside his family home had gone around the world, a few days after the revelations of these leaks in the American press.
The secret documents had notably revealed the concerns of the US intelligence services about the viability of a Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian forces. They also suggested that Washington collect intelligence on its closest allies, including Israel and South Korea.
The case embarrassed Washington and raised questions about possible security breaches, as the young soldier had a secret defense clearance allowing him access to this sensitive information despite his low rank.
With AFP
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