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WORCESTER, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Federal prosecutors say the Massachusetts Air National Guard member charged with leaking classified documents could have many more in his possession.
For that reason and several others, the federal government argued Jack Teixeira should remain behind bars until trial at a detention hearing at the Donohue Federal Courthouse in Worcester on Thursday.
In a filing late Wednesday, prosecutors said the 21-year-old is facing 25 years in prison, "and potentially far more." Teixeira is accused of leaking top secret documents to an internet chat group.
The government introduced evidence that Teixeira has many more documents in his possession than got onto the internet. At one point, the national guard member allegedly said he was “...not gonna type out 35 pages of information," outright telling others that he had more information and was only providing summaries.
The filing argues the airman could flee to a foreign country or sell the documents if he was allowed to walk free before trial.
They said he appears to have tried to destroy evidence, smashing his computer, Xbox, and phone before being arrested. He allegedly told users online to "delete all messages” that he had sent them.
Thursday's hearing came amid reports that two leaders of the 102nd Intelligence Support Squadron — where Teixeira worked — were suspended.
Social Media Comments and an Arsenal of Guns
In addition to the national security arguments, prosecutors pointed to troubling social media comments, a checkered school history, and an arsenal of guns as reasons for keeping Teixeira detained.
Teixeira was suspended from high school in 2018 for comments about "molotov cocktails, guns at the school, and racial threats." The exact nature of the threats wasn't made clear in the government's brief, but his application for a gun license was denied by the Dighton Police over the comments and suspension that year.
Years later, investigators say Teixeira told others on social media that "if he had his way, he would 'kill a [expletive] ton of people' because it would be 'culling the weak minded."'
Prosecutors also pointed out that a large number of weapons found in Teixeira's family homes, including "bolt-action rifles, rifles, AR and AK-style weapons, and a bazooka."
The detention hearing adjourned without a decision on whether Teixeira can stay in his father's custody. The judge in the case said he will "take it under advisement."
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