Massachusetts Air National Guard Member Accused of Leaking Classified Documents Poses a Threat to National Security, Prosecutors Say

A Massachusetts Air National Guard member accused of leaking classified documents poses an ongoing threat to national security, according to federal prosecutors.

Jack Teixeira, 21, was arrested on charges related to the unlawful retention and transmission of national defense and classified documents. In a detention memo filed with the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, prosecutors argued that Teixeira should not be released to the custody of his father before his trial, citing his potential to be a “serious flight risk” and the possibility of a “foreign adversary” helping him escape the United States and giving him safe haven.

The memo also stated that Teixeira may still have access to a trove of classified information that would be valuable to hostile countries. Prosecutors will urge a judge Thursday to keep Teixeira behind bars, citing the potential danger he poses to national security.

Teixeira is a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and is accused of leaking secret Pentagon documents to the public via Facebook. The Justice Department argued that the information to which Teixeira had access “far exceeds what has been publicly disclosed on the Internet to date.”

The case is ongoing and the court will decide Thursday whether Teixeira will remain in detention or be released to the custody of his father. The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on the security of classified documents and the safety of the nation.