BEDFORD, Mass. — Jack Teixeira, the Massachusetts Air Nationwide Guard member who triggered a world uproar when he leaked extremely labeled paperwork concerning the struggle in Ukraine, pleaded responsible to navy fees of obstructing justice at his court-martial Thursday and referred to as himself a “proud patriot.”
In a 10-minute tackle, Teixeira stated he was “exposing and correcting the lies that have been perpetrated by President Biden and force-fed to the American folks” concerning the struggle in Ukraine.
“I imagine the Division of Justice was politicized towards President Trump and myself,” added Teixeira, who stated he acted alone. He referred to as on Trump and members of his administration to reverse his convictions.
“If I saved one American, Russian or Ukrainian life on this money-grabbing struggle, my punishment was value it,” he stated.
The decide agreed to the plea deal, which requires dishonorable discharge and no jail time.
Teixeira was already sentenced final yr to fifteen years in jail after pleading responsible in federal court docket to 6 counts of willful retention and transmission of nationwide protection data underneath the Espionage Act, following his arrest in probably the most consequential nationwide safety breach in years.
Army prosecutors stated earlier than the court-martial at Hanscom Air Power Base in Massachusetts that fees of disobeying orders and obstructing justice have been acceptable on condition that obeying orders is the “absolute core” of the navy.
Teixeira’s lawyer, Lt. Col. Bradley Poronsky, argued Monday that the obstructing justice cost ought to both be dismissed or go unpunished, saying it quantities to double jeopardy as a result of it already factored into Teixeira’s November sentencing.
A plea settlement was accepted by either side that drops the disobeying orders cost. Teixeira pleaded responsible to the obstruction cost, admitting that he used a hammer to destroy a cellphone, a pc onerous drive and an iPad after seeing some information stories of the leaked paperwork. He additionally admitted to telling his good friend to destroy messages exchanged on a communication app.
“I used to be scared a couple of potential regulation enforcement investigation into me and my mates,” he stated in court docket Thursday.
Because the sentencing section started, Teixeira’s dad and mom stated he took an early curiosity within the navy as a toddler. His father, additionally named Jack Teixeira, described him as “a great child, energetic, clever, and quirky.”
When his son determined to hitch the navy, “I used to be enthusiastic about it,” the elder Teixeira stated. “It was a great choice for Jack.” He stated it gave him course and the possibility to see the world.
“He made a mistake,” his mom, Daybreak Dufault, stated. “Everybody makes errors. He’s my son, I really like him. He deserves a second probability.”
The leaks uncovered to the world unvarnished secret assessments of Russia’s struggle in Ukraine, together with details about troop actions in Ukraine, and the supply of provides and tools to Ukrainian troops. The leaked paperwork additionally revealed assessments of the protection capabilities of Taiwan and inner arguments in Britain, Egypt, Israel, South Korea and Japan. Teixeira additionally admitted to posting details about a U.S. adversary’s plans to hurt U.S. forces serving abroad.
Teixeira labored as an data expertise specialist answerable for navy communications networks. His legal professionals described Teixeira as an autistic, remoted particular person who spent most of his time on-line, particularly along with his Discord neighborhood, and by no means meant to hurt america.
