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Jack Teixeira: What we know about Pentagon leak suspect Jack Teixeira: What we know about Pentagon leaks suspect
(about 9 hours later)
Jack Teixeira in a photo posted on social mediaJack Teixeira in a photo posted on social media
It was a private online group with posts about video games, God, guns, memes - and highly classified US files. Friends of 21-year-old Jack Douglas Teixeira, the man accused of leaking classified US intelligence files, say he is not a whistleblower.
The suspect at the centre of the leak that has upset the US and its allies has been named as Air National Guardsman Jack Douglas Teixeira, 21. So why would a relatively junior airman with no clear motivation allegedly share highly sensitive documents online? The files, which number in the dozens, included confidential information about the war in Ukraine and other national security issues.
In a chatroom called Thug Shaker Central on Discord - a social media platform popular with gamers - he was reportedly known as "OG". FBI investigators will no doubt be working to establish a potential motive.
Now he faces charges under the Espionage Act. Mr Teixeira's family has a history of military service, and friends say he has long wanted to join the military, raising further questions about why the suspect would potentially endanger US national security by leaking the files.
Mr Teixeira only graduated in 2020 from high school in his hometown of North Dighton, Massachusetts. His stepfather retired after 34 years of military service, while his mother previously worked for non-profit organisations focused on veterans, according to LinkedIn and public records cited by US media outlets. His mother posted photos of the family every year for Veterans Day.
A year earlier he enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard - which is a reserve of the US Air Force - joining the 102nd Intelligence Wing. The family live in North Dighton, Massachusetts, and Mr Teixeira graduated from high school there in 2020. He was arrested outside the family's rural home by heavily armed FBI agents on Thursday.
Mr Teixeira was promoted last July to Airman 1st Class - a relatively junior position - and was based at Otis Air National Guard Base in western Cape Cod. Neighbours described him as being "big into video games", but said he was a "good kid, not a troublemaker". One said "he had a good head on his shoulders [and] wanted to join the military".
According to his service record, his official title is Cyber Transport Systems journeyman. Guns, war and secret documents
Watch the arrest of the suspected document leaker Mr Teixeira allegedly first leaked the files on the online chatroom platform Discord, which is popular among gamers.
Watch the arrest of the suspected document leaker Known as "OG", he was seen as the leader of an invitation-only chatroom called Thug Shaker Central that he created during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
The Air Force's official website notes that personnel assigned to Cyber Transport Systems jobs are responsible for operating the Air Force's global communications network. The Washington Post reported that the group - which had about two dozen members - swapped "memes, offensive jokes and idle chitchat".
Mr Teixeira's record does not suggest any overseas deployment. They reportedly watched films together, discussed their favourite guns, and messaged extensively about the war in Ukraine. The Associated Press reports that the members also prayed together.
His family reportedly has a history of military service. His stepfather retired after 34 years of service, according to the Washington Post. His last posting was as a master sergeant from Mr Teixeira's unit, the 102nd Intelligence Wing. One member of the chatroom described Mr Teixeira as a young, charismatic gun enthusiast. Others said he was older than most in the group and appeared keen to impress them.
His mother has previously worked in non-profits focused on veterans, as well as the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services, according to LinkedIn and public records cited by US media outlets. WATCH: National security lawyer on Jack Teixiera: "A dumb kid showing off to his friends"
She posted photos of the family every year for Veterans Day. Other photos on social media reportedly show Mr Teixeira with his family's two dogs and riding all-terrain vehicles. WATCH: National security lawyer on Jack Teixiera: "A dumb kid showing off to his friends"
He was reportedly known as the leader of an invitation-only Discord chatroom created in 2020. Before he shared the images of the intelligence, Mr Teixeira allegedly wrote up versions of the sensitive information and shared it to the chatroom.
Thug Shaker Central included roughly 20 to 30 members - mostly young men - from various countries. But he reportedly began sharing photos of the files after becoming frustrated with the lack of response.
The Washington Post reported that the group had swapped "memes, offensive jokes and idle chitchat", watched films together and prayed. On one occasion, the Post said, he sent an irate message to the group complaining that they were more interested in YouTube videos.
A member of the chatroom said Mr Teixeira was a young, charismatic gun enthusiast. "He got upset, and he said on multiple occasions, if you guys aren't going to interact with them [the files], I'm going to stop sending them," the unidentified group member told the newspaper.
Other members told US media that Mr Teixeira was older than most in the group and appeared keen to impress them. At first, the leaks were kept inside the small chatroom, but in early March, members began posting them on other Discord servers, including ones dedicated to the game Minecraft and a Filipino YouTuber.
One told the New York Times: "He was the man, the myth. And he was the legend. Everyone respected this guy." The Washington Post said they were shown videos from a member of the group of Mr Teixeira shouting racist and antisemitic slurs before firing a rifle.
According to the Post, Mr Teixeira told the group he worked in a facility where phones were banned. According to the Post, he told the group he worked in a facility where phones were banned.
He reportedly used various usernames online, such as TheExcaliburEffect, jackdjdtex and TexKilledYou. He is said to have used various usernames online, such as TheExcaliburEffect, jackdjdtex and TexKilledYou.
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What we know about US leaks suspect Jack Teixeira
What punishment awaits the Pentagon files leaker?What punishment awaits the Pentagon files leaker?
Eight things we learned from the leaked filesEight things we learned from the leaked files
Leaks suggest US spied on UN chiefLeaks suggest US spied on UN chief
How secret files on Ukraine spread, then disappearedHow secret files on Ukraine spread, then disappeared
Western special forces inside Ukraine, leak shows One teenager in the group had a theory on why he shared the documents.
He previously wrote up versions of the sensitive information and shared it to the chatroom. "This guy was a Christian, anti-war, just wanted to inform some of his friends about what's going on," he told the New York Times.
But he reportedly began sharing photos of the files after becoming frustrated when other members of the chatroom did not pay attention. Mr Teixeira enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, a reserve of the US Air Force, in 2019. His job title is Cyber Transport Systems journeyman, and he holds the junior rank of Airman 1st Class.
On one occasion, the Post reported, he sent an irate message to the group complaining that they were more interested in YouTube videos. The Air Force's official website says that personnel assigned to his role are responsible for operating the Air Force's global communications network.
"He got upset, and he said on multiple occasions, if you guys aren't going to interact with them [the files], I'm going to stop sending them," the unidentified group member told the newspaper. It also notes that the job requires a background check - specifically a single scope background investigation (SSBI) - which reportedly allows access to top secret information.
One teenager in the group had a theory on why Mr Teixeira shared the documents. The New York Times quoted Mr Teixeira's mother as saying he had been working overnight on the base in the lead-up to his arrest.
"This guy was a Christian, anti-war, just wanted to inform some of his friends about what's going on," he told The New York Times. The Pentagon says it will re-examine how classified information is distributed, but a spokesman said it was "the nature" of the US military to entrust young service members with high levels of responsibility.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Pentagon leaks
US national securityUS national security
Jack Teixeira
United StatesUnited States