2023-05-18 18:11:00
Jacques Teixeira was repeatedly warned for accessing classified information.. but until the day of his arrest he retained a high-level authorization allowing him to access classified documents
Washington – AFP
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Court documents show that a US pilot accused of leaking classified documents was repeatedly warned for misusing a security clearance that gave him access to classified information, but was nevertheless allowed to keep the high-level pass.
And Jacques Teixeira, 21, is accused of masterminding the largest leak of classified US documents in a decade, and publishing highly sensitive information on the Internet that severely damaged the US military.
The published documents revealed the United States’ concern regarding Ukraine’s military capabilities in the face of Russian forces, and showed that Washington apparently spied on Israel and South Korea, the two allies, in addition to other sensitive details.
Prosecutors asked to keep Teixeira in pre-trial detention and provided documents to support their arguments on Wednesday, including copies of three partially redacted US Air Force memos alleging Teixeira acted suspiciously on several occasions.
A document dated September 15, 2022 stated that Teixeira was “observed taking notes on classified information” and “was instructed not to take notes in any way on classified intelligence.”
A later document indicated that the problem persisted because Teixeira ignored “the order to stop diving into intelligence” and focus only on his job.
And at the end of January 2023, Techira was seen “viewing content related to the field of intelligence that has nothing to do with his primary job,” according to a third document.
Teixeira was arrested in April following a week-long investigation and charged with two counts carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Despite multiple warnings regarding mishandling of classified information, Teixeira at the time of his arrest still had a security clearance, according to an FBI affidavit.
On Friday, a judge is expected to rule on the prosecutor’s request for Techira’s continued detention.
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