Federal investigators in the U.S. arrested a 21-year-old man who they believe is linked to leaked classified intelligence documents that have upended relations with American allies and exposed weaknesses in the Ukrainian military.
Using a gaming profile and other records, The Times identified the man as Jack Teixeira, a member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. Teixeira oversaw an online group, Thug Shaker Central, where the documents first appeared. The group consisted of about two dozen people, mostly young men and teenagers, who came together over a shared love of guns, racist memes and video games.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said yesterday that the F.B.I. had taken Teixeira into custody “without incident,” adding that Teixeira is accused of illegally sharing classified defense information. President Biden sought to downplay the leaks, saying he wasn’t concerned about the disclosures.
New revelations: The cache of documents has shed light on recent U.S. accusations that China was considering giving Russia military aid. In mid-February, the U.S. intercepted communications indicating that Russian intelligence officials had reported the approval of such aid by China’s top military body.
