Former MA Air National Guardsman convicted of confidential document leak

The former Massachusetts Air National Guard soldier who leaked classified documents while stationed at Joint Base Cape Cod will spend 15 years in prison. Jack Teixeira was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Boston.

Prosecutors called the leak “one of the most significant and consequential violations of the Espionage Act in American history.”

“Mr. Teixeira is responsible for participating in one of the most significant leaks of classified documents and information in United States history, which resulted in exceptionally serious and long-lasting damage to the national security of the United States. He used his top secret security clearance “To share critical defense information online. In doing so, he disclosed sensitive defense information involving our allies, endangering our intelligence community and our troops,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy “Today, justice has been served to all men and women who serve our country abroad with honor and loyalty to their oath.”

Teixeira admitted to sharing the classified information on the social media platform Discord.

(Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)