A Massachusetts federal court judge ordered Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira to remain in federal custody in connection with accusations he leaked top-secret Pentagon documents on social media and allegedly bragged about doing so.
Teixeira wore an orange, jail-issued uniform and shackles as he appeared in a Worcester, Massachusetts, federal court, where Magistrate Judge David Hennessy granted prosecutors’ motion to detain him, according to local news station WPRI.
Hennessy said Teixeira could further obstruct justice and is a flight risk.
The 21-year-old accused leaker has remained jailed since he was arrested last month.
His attorneys had asked that their client be released and allowed to stay at his father’s home.
They argued he would not flee, as he did not when the news of his alleged leaks grew to be national news, court papers show.
The cyber transport systems specialist allegedly shared hundreds of highly classified government documents to a Discord closed online chat group, including those related to the Ukraine war and other national security matters.
He was charged under the Espionage Act with unauthorized retention and transmission of classified national defense information.
This is a developing news story. Please check back for updates.
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