New York: US officials on Thursday arrested a suspect in the case of leaked classified materials and documents, US media reported. ABC News reported that the FBI made a “probable cause” capture of a man identified by officials as a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.
CNN aired a video North Dighton, Massachusetts showing the captive in shorts with his hands behind his back and being placed by FBI agents into an unmarked van.
US personnel arrested over classified document leak
BBC reported that the FBI has also released a statement on the development and confirmed that it took Jack Douglas Teixeira into its custody for an “alleged role” in leaking classified documents. The statement said it is still carrying out “law enforcement activity” at a house in North Dighton, Massachusetts.
The statement added, ” FBI has aggressively pursued probe leads, and today’s arrest demonstrates our continued pledge to identifying and holding accountable those who put our country’s security at risk,”.
Meanwhile, US Attorney General Merrick Garland also confirmed the arrest in Massachusetts of a person suspected of leaking classified defense documents via social media. He identified the suspect as an employee of the Air Force and said he would appear in court in Massachusetts.
Earlier, US President Joe Biden said that investigators were close to finding the suspect who leaked the classified documents. Similarly, US national security spokesperson John Kirby was careful, telling journalists at the White House that the government will let the Department of Justice “do their job, probe this “.
Pentagon official Chris Meagher said the leak documents present “a very serious and high risk to national security and have the ability to spread disinformation”. However, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington will turn over every pillar until they find the source of this and the amount of it.
