Air Force Probe: Pentagon Leak Suspect Solo, 15 Others Reprimanded for Negligence
OAN’s Brooke Mallory
3:18 PM – Monday, December 11, 2023
The Fallout from the Discord Leaks: Air Force Reprimands 15 Individuals
Although the U.S. Air Force concluded that Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira acted alone in purportedly leaking confidential material, the field operating agency reprimanded 15 individuals for “dereliction of duty” and stated that there were circumstances that made it possible for Teixeira to carry out the crime.
Teixeira’s unit “failed to take proper action after becoming aware of his intelligence-seeking activities,” according to the findings of an Air Force Inspector General probe made public on Monday.
However, there was no proof that his supervisory chain was “aware” of the disclosures.
The investigation apparently discovered a number of indirect causes that contributed to the leak, including inadequate inspection of areas under command, conflicting instructions on how to report security problems, varying interpretations of the “need to know” concept, and a lack of control and supervision during night shift operations.
The 21-year-old is accused of using the social networking site Discord, which is mostly used by online gamers, to leak secret Pentagon data.
In June, he entered a not guilty plea after being charged with six federal charges of intentionally retaining and transmitting material related to national defense.
According to the military, the investigation has resulted in “disciplinary and other administrative actions” for 15 different individuals.
“The actions ranged from relieving personnel from their positions, including command positions, to non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice,” the U.S. Air Force said.
According to the inquiry, Teixeira’s unit leadership in the 102nd Intelligence Wing neglected mission security and was not “vigilant” in monitoring the behavior of its troops.
The Air Force stated that commanders who had been suspended were permanently removed, and members of that unit were among those who suffered administrative punishment.
“The 102nd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group was taken off mission when Teixeira was discovered as the source of the unauthorized disclosures. The group’s mission remains reassigned to other organizations within the Air Force,” the military posted.
The Air Force has now increased “accountability for protection of classified and sensitive information” and made adjustments “related to need to know and classified access” after the purported disclosures.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the government to search communications of certain non-Americans located overseas without a warrant, will soon expire.
President Biden is hosting his Ukrainian counterpart on Tuesday in what the White House describes as a show of support for the country and to press Congress to continue its funding.
Senior litigation counsel at the New Civil Liberties Alliance says the State Department’s Global Engagement Center is using taxpayer fund to shut down conservative news outlets. One America’s John Hines has more from Washington.
As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East over the Israel Hamas War.
Microsoft and the AFL-CIO union federation said they had struck a deal whereby the software giant will remain neutral in efforts by unions to encourage workers to become members.
Amazon.com asked a federal court to dismiss a U.S. government antitrust lawsuit which accuses the company of using illegal strategies to boost profits at its online retail empire.
More than 10 million people have signed up for X in December, X CEO Linda Yaccarino said in a post on the social media platform.
Alphabet shares ended 5.3% higher on Thursday as Wall Street cheered the launch of Gemini.
rnrn
What were the direct and indirect causes that contributed to the leaks of classified military documents on Discord?
The Fallout from the Discord Leaks: Air Force Reprimands 15 Individuals
In April 2023, the U.S. Air Force was rocked by a scandal involving leaks of classified military documents on the internet social app Discord. The whistleblower, 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, an airman in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was arrested and charged with espionage. While it was concluded that Teixeira acted alone in leaking the confidential material, the fallout from the incident has resulted in reprimands for 15 individuals within the Air Force.
According to the findings of an Air Force Inspector General probe released on Monday, Teixeira’s unit failed to take proper action after becoming aware of his intelligence-seeking activities. However, there is no evidence to suggest that his supervisory chain was aware of the disclosures. The investigation uncovered a number of indirect causes that contributed to the leak, including inadequate inspection of areas under command, conflicting instructions on how to report security problems, varying interpretations of the “need to know” concept, and a lack of control and supervision during night shift operations.
Teixeira is accused of using the social networking site Discord, primarily used by online gamers, to leak secret Pentagon data. He entered a not guilty plea after being charged with six federal charges related to national defense. As a result of the investigation, disciplinary and other administrative actions have been taken against 15 individuals within the Air Force.
“The actions ranged from relieving personnel from their positions, including command positions, to non-judicial punishment under Article 15 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice,” stated the U.S. Air Force. Teixeira’s unit leadership in the 102nd Intelligence Wing was found to have neglected mission security and was not vigilant in monitoring the behavior of its troops. Commanders who were suspended have been permanently removed, and members of that unit have faced administrative punishment.
The fallout from the leaks has impacted the 102nd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group, which has been taken off mission and reassigned to other organizations within the Air Force. The Air Force has increased accountability for the protection of classified and sensitive information and made adjustments related to the “need to know” concept and classified access.
The incident has raised concerns about the security measures in place within the Air Force and the potential vulnerabilities to leaks of classified information. The repercussions of such leaks can have far-reaching implications not only for national security but also for the military personnel involved.
As the Air Force works to address the aftermath of the Discord leaks, it is crucial that measures are put in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. This includes ensuring strict adherence to security protocols, improving supervision and oversight, and providing comprehensive training on the handling of classified information.
The fallout from the Discord leaks serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining the utmost vigilance in safeguarding classified information. The Air Force must remain committed to upholding the highest standards of security to protect the integrity of its operations and the safety of its personnel.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...