Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard accused of leaking classified Pentagon documents on social media, was denied pretrial release for the second time on Friday.
US District Court Judge Indira Talwani reportedly upheld an earlier decision by a magistrate that Teixeira remain in custody while awaiting trial.
Teixeira, 21, has been behind bars since his arrest in April. He pleaded not guilty to six counts of intentionally withholding and transmitting national military information. He faces up to 60 years in prison.
Teixeira’s lawyers argued that their client posed no risk if he was let go, and pointed to the release of other suspects who had been accused of leaking classified documents, including former President Donald Trump.
But Talwani cited allegations that Teixeira searched the classified military network for information about mass shootings in the country.
Jack Teixeira, the Air National Guard member accused of leaking classified documents, was denied pretrial release for the second time on Friday.via REUTERS
A police officer patrols outside the federal courthouse during an appearance by alleged Pentagon leaker Jack Teixeira.REUTERS
“When Teixeira spoke to other participants on his social media platform, he showed a chilling interest in violence and disregard for human life,” the judge wrote.
“The court also cannot dismiss the government’s evidence that Teixeira has a disturbing interest in mass violence,” Talwani continued. “Teixeira’s messages on social media show an affinity for violence and vitriol towards certain classes of people.”
He also pointed to evidence the government believes is still missing and noted that if released, Teixeira could have the opportunity to obstruct the case.
Jack Teixeira pleaded not guilty to six counts of leaking secret Department of Defense files.AP
Teixeira is suspected of leaking a large number of classified Department of Defense documents on Discord, a social media platform used primarily by online gamers, after he allegedly obtained them while serving as a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. The highly classified documents included detailed intelligence assessments of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Teixeira enlisted in the US Air National Guard in 2019 and obtained a top-secret security clearance in 2021, the Justice Department previously said.
He worked as a cyber transportation systems officer for the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and was stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod during the period in which he was accused of leaking security secrets. national.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn