Do not forget that U.S. Air Nationwide Guardsman who’s suspected of leaking labeled paperwork? The New York Occasions has found “a beforehand undisclosed chat group on Discord” the place the identical airman apparently additionally posted “delicate data” together with “secret intelligence on the Russian conflict effort,” this time to a bunch with 600 members — and “months sooner than beforehand recognized,” in February of 2022.
The case in opposition to Airman Teixeira, 21, who was arrested on April 13, pertains to the leaking of labeled paperwork on one other Discord group of about 50 members, known as Thug Shaker Central. There, he started posting delicate data in October 2022, members of the group advised The Occasions. His job as an data know-how specialist at an Air Pressure base in Massachusetts gave him prime secret clearance… The person claimed to be posting data from the Nationwide Safety Company, the Central Intelligence Company and different intelligence businesses.
The extra data raises questions on why authorities didn’t uncover the leaks sooner, notably since lots of extra folks would have been in a position to see the posts… The publicity of a few of America’s most intently guarded secrets and techniques has prompted criticism about how the Pentagon and intelligence businesses defend labeled information, and whether or not there are weaknesses in each vetting folks for safety clearances and imposing the mantra that entry to secrets and techniques ought to solely be given to folks with a “must know.”
In contrast to Thug Shaker Central, the second chat room was publicly listed on a YouTube channel and was simply accessed in seconds… Apparently wanting to impress others within the group who questioned his evaluation, he mentioned: “I’ve slightly greater than open supply data. Perks of being in a USAF intel unit,” referring to the USA Air Pressure… At instances, he gave the impression to be posting from the army base the place he was stationed… Airman Teixeira additionally claimed that he was actively combing labeled laptop networks for materials on the Ukraine conflict.
When one of many Discord customers urged him to not abuse his entry to labeled intelligence, Teixeira replied: “too late….”
The Occasions says they realized concerning the bigger chat room “from one other Discord person.”
