Jack Teixeira — The FBI apprehended Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, on Thursday.
According to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Teixeira is connected to the leaked private data that has been circulating online.
The arrest
Jack Teixeira was arrested following a fast investigation by US investigators into the identity of the individual who leaked personal information on Discord, a prominent social networking service for video game enthusiasts.
Teixeira was apprehended without incident in Massachusetts, according to Garland.
He will also face charges in federal court in that city.
“The investigation is ongoing,” said Garland. “We will share information at the appropriate time.”
According to the US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts, Jack Teixeira will appear in court in Boston on Friday.
Meanwhile, the FBI reported Teixeira’s arrest at his residence in North Dighton, Massachusetts, for his role in the leak of classified US government and military information.
“The FBI is continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the residence,” said the agency.
“Since late last week, the FBI has aggressively pursued investigative leads, and today’s arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing, and holding accountable those who betray our country’s trust and put our national security at risk.”
The stolen information, which included comprehensive intelligence evaluations of friends and adversaries, was widely distributed on social media.
Some of the documents also revealed the facts of the Ukraine war, as well as the barriers that slowed Kyiv and Moscow.
Search for the suspect
Several US intelligence organizations believe Jack Teixeira is the leader of a group spreading secret material over social media.
Thousands of individuals with news access began looking for the criminal.
Investigators immediately limited the search to prospective chat group members using information obtained in the days following the discovery of the sensitive data by US officials.
Despite the fact that the records were viewed by several persons, investigators were able to limit the possibilities thanks to the forensic trail left by the leaker.
According to a US government source familiar with the matter, Jack Teixeira was under FBI surveillance for many days before his detention on Thursday.
Biden’s update
President Biden appeared to hint early Thursday that the administration was close to capturing the leaker.
According to a US source, Biden learned of his arrest between his statement to parliament and his departure for a gala luncheon at Dublin Castle.
Between the two events, Biden stayed at the hotel for more than 90 minutes.
The US president was briefed on the investigation and his senior staff’s efforts to contact allies identified in or impacted by the substance of the stolen papers, according to authorities.
Another source claims that the issue has lingered during Biden’s extremely personal and crucial international trip.
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Details on the leaker
The Air Force revealed Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira’s military details following his arrest.
Teixeira is a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.
He started his formal Cyber Transport Systems journeyman position in September 2019.
According to the Air Force, Cyber Transport Systems employees support the smooth running of the service’s global communications network.
According to the Washington Post, the leaker worked on a military website and shared sensitive national secrets with an internet network of buddies.
A leaker’s friend described him as a lonely young guy and gun enthusiast who joined a Discord group with over two dozen other people who shared a passion for firearms and military gear.
Upbringing
Several of Jack Teixeira’s previous classmates were into the military, weaponry, and violence.
Teixeira would sneak into school with a large book on firearms and act in ways that made other pupils uncomfortable.
“A lot of people were wary of him,” said Brooke Cleathero, a middle school and high school classmate.
Another student, John Powell, remembers Teixeira as a polite and quiet young guy who was sometimes mocked.
“He didn’t have many friends,” said Powell.
Jack Teixeira grew up in the Providence suburbs, according to public documents.
In 2020, he graduated from Dighton-Rehoboth High School.
Powell recalls Teixeira bringing out a military vehicle textbook on occasion.
“He was dead set on joining some branch of the military, even as a kid,” said Powell.
According to several kids who sought anonymity, Jack Teixeira created a frightening environment and made nasty statements about others.
Following the atrocious Las Vegas tragedy in 2017, one kid claimed he attended school wearing AR-15-themed attire.
While Teixeira’s actions were unnecessary, they did raise worries among many others.
Meanwhile, another student confused his military interests with American nationalism, which surprised her when the charges were made public.
“I didn’t think he would be capable of doing something like this,” she said.
Biden voiced worry about the leaks but was unperturbed about the content on Thursday.
“I’m not concerned about the leak,” said the US president.
“I’m concerned that it happened, but there’s nothing contemporaneous that I’m aware of that is of any consequence.”
