US Military Secrets Leaker Suspect Owns A Gun Warehouse At Home, Prosecutor: Danger To National Security
JAKARTA - A member of the United States Air National Guard accused of leaking military secrets will be brought to court on Thursday local time, where a federal prosecutor is expected to argue that he should remain in custody because it poses a national security risk.
Jack Douglas Teixeira was arrested by the FBI on April 13 at his home in Massachusetts. He was charged with violating the Espionage Act. He is scheduled to attend the US District Court in Worcester, Massachusetts on Thursday afternoon for his detention hearing.
Prosecutors said the 21-year-old leaked classified documents, including some related to troop movements in the Russian-Ukraine conflict, to a group of gamers on the Discord messaging app.
Teixeira, who lives with her mother and stepfather, kept a two-foot gun locker from her bed, which contained a gun, a bold-action rifle, and a military-style rifle with a high-capacity magazine.
FBI agents also found gas masks, ammunition, and what looked like an "noise-maming-style accessories in the drawer of the table," according to a motion that said Teixeira should remain in custody before trial.
"The defendant has undoubtedly posed a widespread danger to the US based on his ability to cause a very serious danger to US national security," according to a motion filed by US ProsecutorZ Rollins' office.
"However, there is also evidence that shows that the Defendant can also pose a physical danger to the community," continued the motion.
In 2018, while in high school, Teixeira was suspended after he was heard making racial threats and comments about weapons. Teixeira attributed the comments to references in video games, according to prosecutors.
Recently, in November 2022, Teixeira said if he had a desire he would "kill a lot of people" because it would "destroy weak-minded people," prosecutors said in documents supporting their motion to detain Teixeira.