Summary

  • Jack Teixeira has appeared in a Boston court for allegedly leaking confidential US defence and intelligence documents

  • He's been charged with unauthorised retention and transmission of national defence information, and unauthorised removal and retention of classified documents

  • The 21-year-old - who had top-secret clearance - faces 15 years in prison if he's found guilty on all counts

  • The FBI arrested him in Massachusetts on Thursday - and he's being held until his next hearing on Wednesday

  • Teixeira is a member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and was recently promoted, documents show

  • The defence and intelligence files were leaked on the gaming platform Discord, causing panic among top US officials

  1. WATCH: Live stream from Bostonpublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 14 April 2023

    Our team is continuing to look through the complaint document to extract more detail.

    You can watch the stream from outside the court in Boston by clicking on the Play icon at the top of the page - you'll see a number of reporters have gathered there for any appearance by Teixeira.

  2. Teixeira searched classified material for word 'leak'published at 15:40 British Summer Time 14 April 2023

    According to the document laying out the complaint against Jack Teixeira, the suspect used his government computer in early April to search classified intelligence reporting for the word "leak".

    He did so just after the first articles emerged about the leak on April 6, the document says.

    Authorities also allege Teixeira was searching through classified reporting for information on who the US intelligence community thought transmitted the classified national defence information.

  3. Teixeira has held top secret security clearance since 2021published at 15:34 British Summer Time 14 April 2023
    Breaking

    The full complaint document filed by the US government confirms that Jack Teixeira has held top security clearance since 2021 as part of his role in the Air National Guard.

    The document also lays out that he was promoted in February last year to the rank of airman first class.

    In the affidavit provided to the court, FBI special agent Patrick Lueckenhoff says Teixeira would have "signed a lifetime binding non-disclosure agreement" to take on the role.

    Luekenoff adds the suspect "would have had to acknowledge that the unauthorized disclosure of protected information could result in criminal charges".

    The document also says Teixeira had access to "other highly classified programs" since 2021.

  4. Teixeira complaint document releasedpublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 14 April 2023

    We've just seen the complaint document and we're making our way through it now.

    We'll bring you more detail as we get it.

  5. Teixeira charged over removal of classified documentspublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 14 April 2023
    Breaking

    Jack Teixeira has been charged with unauthorised removal and retention of classified documents and materials.

    The judge says he qualifies for a public defender.

    The US Justice department has requested that Teixeira is detained pending trial.

  6. Teixeira appears in courtpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 14 April 2023
    Breaking

    Jack Teixeira has been brought into federal court in Boston over charges related to the leak of classified Pentagon documents.

    According to CNN, he was brought into the court room in handcuffs.

  7. Suspect to appear in courtpublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 14 April 2023

    US networks - including the BBC's partner in the US, CBS News - are reporting that the US intelligence leaks suspect Jack Teixeira is due to appear in a court in Boston imminently.

    There are no cameras in the courtroom.

    Stay with us as we keep you updated.

  8. More from the leaked documentspublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 14 April 2023

    Here's more key takeaways from the cache of classified US documents leaked online:

    • Western forces in Ukraine: One document refers to the presence of a small number of Western special forces operating inside Ukraine, without specifying their activities or location
    • Ukraine offensive: According to the Washington Post newspaper, one document expresses misgivings about Ukraine's chances of success in its forthcoming counter-offensive
    • Russian rockets: A document revealed Egypt had plans to produce 40,000 rockets for Russia in secret. President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi reportedly told officials to keep production and shipment secret
    • South Korea torn over Ukraine support: A classified document reveals that South Korea was torn about selling weapons for use in Ukraine
    • Chinese weapon tests: The Washington Post also found that Beijing tested one of its experimental missiles - the DF-27 hypersonic glide vehicle - on 25 February

    Read more here

  9. Leaks paint detailed picture of war in Ukrainepublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 14 April 2023

    The leaked documents - which first appeared on messaging platform Discord in early March - paint a detailed picture of the war in Ukraine, as well as containing information on China and US allies.

    These are some of the key findings:

    • UN boss 'too accommodating' to Russia: UN boss Antonio Guterres was seen by the US as being too willing to accommodate Russian interests, according to files which suggest Washington has been closely monitoring him
    • Russian infighting: Documents suggest Russian officials are at loggerheads over the reporting of casualties - and that the main intelligence agency has "accused" the defence ministry of downplaying the human impact of the war
    • Chinese retaliation: Documents based on intelligence from late February detail discussions among senior Jordanian officials over whether or not to shut Chinese firm Huawei out of Jordan's 5G rollout plans. Crown Prince Hussein is said to have been worried about retaliation from Beijing

    You can read more of our analysis here.

  10. What officials have said so farpublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 14 April 2023

    The response from US officials has indicated the seriousness with which the leak is being treated.

    Following the arrest of suspect Jack Teixeira, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was launching a review of Pentagon "intelligence access, accountability and control procedures".

    US Senator Jack Reed, chairman of the Senate armed services committee, said the security breach "cannot be allowed to happen again".

    And General Pat Ryder insisted ahead of Teixeira's arrest that leaking the documents was a "deliberate criminal act", implying the act is being taken very seriously by the justice department and the Pentagon.

    US Defence Secretary Lloyd AustinImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    The US defence secretary says he's launching a review of intelligence access

  11. Watch: FBI arrests the suspected document leakerpublished at 14:27 British Summer Time 14 April 2023

    Jack Teixeira was arrested by FBI agents in Massachusetts on Thursday.

    Attorney General Merrick Garland shared a short statement saying only that Teixeira was arrested in connection with alleged "unauthorised removal, retention and transmission" of classified defence information.

    Media caption,

    Watch the arrest of the suspected document leaker

  12. What we know about Jack Teixeirapublished at 14:19 British Summer Time 14 April 2023

    Jack TeixeiraImage source, Facebook

    The FBI arrested Jack Teixeira yesterday in connection with leaked classified government documents and is expected to appear in court today.

    Here's what we know about him:

    • He is 21-years-old and an employee of the United States Airforce National Guard
    • He was arrested in North Dighton, Massachusetts, outside his family's home
    • Teixeira's family has a history of military service, and friends say he has long wanted to join the military
    • Neighbours described him as being "big into video games", but said he was a "good kid, not a troublemaker"
    • Teixeira allegedly first leaked the files on gaming chatroom platform Discord. One member of the chatroom described Teixeira as a young, charismatic gun enthusiast

    Read more here.

  13. Leaks suspect to appear in courtpublished at 14:17 British Summer Time 14 April 2023

    Marianna Brady
    Live reporter

    Hello again - you join us as we await an appearance in a Boston court from Jack Teixeira, the man believed to be linked to a leak of confidential US defence and intelligence documents.

    The 21-year-old member of the air national guard was arrested by the FBI on Thursday after being identified as the leader of an online chat group where the documents first emerged.

    We expect him to make his appearance in the coming hours. Charges against him have not yet been revealed.

    I'm reporting from Washington DC, and am joined by my colleagues Aoife Walsh, Michael Sheils McNamee and James FitzGerald in London. Stay with us.

  14. We're pausing our coverage for todaypublished at 00:08 British Summer Time 14 April 2023

    Thank you for joining us today as we covered the arrest of Jack Teixeira in connection with the leak of classified documents.

    We're now pausing our coverage, which was brought to you by Marianna Brady, Malu Cursino, Bernd Debusmann Jr, Jessica Murphy, Robin Levinson-King, James FitzGerald and Aoife Walsh, as well as our correspondents in the field.

  15. Information in leaked documents 'static'published at 23:52 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

    Republican Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence Mike TurnerImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Mike Turner is the Republican chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence

    Damage from the information in leaked Pentagon documents "has the ability to be mitigated", the Republican chairman of the House Select Committee has said.

    Mike Turner told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme: "The types of documents that have been publicly released are static" - meaning that they're snapshots in time.

    "It's not an ongoing leak, it's not a leak where someone has continuing access that's being provided publicly."

    Turner said his committee will hold a number of hearings to find out how the leaker could have gotten access to the files.

    He said US safety protocols are "among the best in the world", but "every precaution comes down to individuals".

    "Sometimes you have an individual that betrays you," he added.

  16. The Pentagon leak explained in under 60 secondspublished at 23:29 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

    Air Force National Guard employee Jack Teixeira has been arrested over the leak of US defence and intelligence documents.

    Before the arrest took place, the BBC's Barbara Plett Usher explained what sensitive intelligence the files contained and its significance:

    Media caption,

    The Pentagon leaks explained in under 60 seconds

  17. US defence secretary launches intelligence reviewpublished at 23:18 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

    US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has just said he is launching a review of "intelligence access, accountability and control procedures" within the Pentagon in the wake of the leaked documents.

    In a short statement sent out on Thursday evening, Austin thanked authorities for their "swift arrest" of the suspect earlier today and said DoD and its national security partners would "continue to review the national security implications of this unauthorized disclosure".

  18. WATCH: The moment Teixeira was arrestedpublished at 22:59 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

    Media caption,

    Watch the arrest of the suspected document leaker

    Aerial footage shows officers making an arrest at Jack Teixeira's family home on Thursday.

    The arrest happened in Dighton, a town of 8,000 people about an hour to the south of Boston.

  19. More answers needed - Senator Reedpublished at 22:43 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

    Senator ReedImage source, Reuters

    US Senator Jack Reed has said "more answers are needed" after the FBI arrested a suspect over the leaking US Pentagon document

    Reed, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the security breach "cannot be allowed to happen again".

    He said "systematic issues" such as the protocols over how intelligence is handled and security clearance processes "need to be addressed".

    "Congress will be briefed further and corrective steps will be taken," he said in a statement. , external

  20. What is the Air National Guard?published at 22:33 British Summer Time 13 April 2023

    As we've been mentioning, suspect Jack Teixeira is an employee of the Air National Guard (ANG).

    The ANG's members serve their local communities, but can also be called up for national duty. Teixeira's employment is in Massachusetts specifically.

    ANG staff have the choice of serving part-time and can choose their role, which the military says makes the branch "unique".

    Those who join up to the ANG must be between the ages of 17 and 39, and have a high school diploma or equivalent. They must also pass an entrance exam, medical screening and background check.

    An officer needs to have a bachelor's degree, and to undergo further tests and training.