Jack Teixeira, a former Air National Guard member, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking classified military documents online. Teixeira, who held a top-secret clearance, accessed and shared sensitive materials on Discord, reportedly to impress online peers, beginning in 2022. The leaked documents contained critical information about U.S. troop movements, foreign threats, and military support to Ukraine, which federal officials say could severely impact U.S. national security and international relations.

Jack Teixeira.

Teixeira’s sentencing follows his guilty plea to multiple counts under the Espionage Act. Although his defense cited autism and social isolation as factors, Judge Indira Talwani emphasized Teixeira’s violations of extensive training on classified material handling. FBI officials described Teixeira as one of the most “prolific” leakers in U.S. history, noting he posted nearly daily for over a year.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy, Teixeira’s actions jeopardized U.S. personnel abroad, strained critical alliances, and revealed national intelligence methods. Federal authorities initially requested a 17-year sentence, but the judge ultimately imposed a 15-year term, viewing it as a deterrent against future security breaches.

Levy concluded that the full impact of Teixeira’s leaks may take years to assess, with the case serving as a stark reminder of the responsibilities tied to access to classified information.