FBI arrests 21-year-old Air Force guardsman in Pentagon leak case

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States has arrested a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, Jack Teixeira, on Thursday in connection with classified documents leaked on the internet.

The classified documents revealing details about the US spying on Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine and secret assessments of Ukraine’s combat power, as well as intelligence-gathering on America’s allies, including South Korea and Israel were found online last month though the duration and the total number that had been posted is unclear.

The U.S Attorney General Merrick Garland announced in brief remarks at the Justice Department announced the arrest.

“Today, the Justice Department arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorised removal, retention and transmission of classified national defence information. Teixeira is an employee of the United States Air Force National Guard,” Garland said.

He said the 21-year-old was arrested in Massachusetts without incident and would be arraigned in federal court there.

The US President, Joe Biden, disclosed that the investigation is leading to a breakthrough.

“There’s a full-blown investigation going on, as you know, with the Intelligence Committee and the Justice Department, and they’re getting close,” Biden said on Thursday.