A court drawing from April 2023 shows Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira appearing in U.S. District Court in Boston. (Margaret Small/AP)

BOSTON – A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard to 15 years in prison for leaking classified military documents about the war in Ukraine, actions that prosecutors say put the country’s national security at risk. they endangered other military members and damaged US relations with its allies.

Jack Teixeira had pleaded guilty in March to six counts of intentionally retaining and transmitting national defense information under the Espionage Act, nearly a year after his arrest in the largest national security breach in years. Dressed in an orange jumpsuit in court, he showed no reaction as he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani.

“Today, Mr. Teixeira has paid a very high price for the laws he broke, for the incredible harm he caused,” Massachusetts Acting U.S. Attorney Josh Levy said afterward. “This meaningful phrase sends a powerful message to every individual who holds a top secret clearance. “Anyone who intentionally threatens our national security by illegally disseminating classified information will face very serious repercussions.”

Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the Boston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, told reporters that the sentence held Teixeira accountable for “being one of the most prolific leakers of classified information in the history of the United States.”

“This former Air National Guard member flagrantly betrayed our country and the oath he swore to safeguard its secrets to boost his ego and impress his friends,” Cohen said. “This was not a victimless crime. “The exceptionally severe damage it caused will impact our national security for decades to come.”

The leaks exposed to the world unvarnished, secret assessments of Russia’s war in Ukraine, including information about troop movements in Ukraine and the provision of supplies and equipment to Ukrainian troops. Teixeira also admitted to publishing information about a U.S. adversary’s plans to harm U.S. forces serving abroad.

Outside court, Teixeira’s lawyer, Michael Bachrach, called it a “very difficult day” for his client and said Talwani imposed a “very severe punishment.” Still, he said, it was better than taking the case to trial, where Teixeira would have faced 30 years to life behind bars.

“It’s a significant sentence that will deter others,” Bachrach said. “But it will also allow him to reflect on himself and grow. And we fully expect him to do so.”

Before being sentenced, Teixeira showed little emotion when he appeared in court and apologized for his actions. The 22-year-old had previously admitted that he illegally collected some of the country’s most sensitive secrets and shared them with other users on the social media platform Discord.

“I wanted to apologize for all the harm I caused,” Teixeira said. “I understand that all responsibility and consequences fall solely on my shoulders and I accept whatever that brings.”

Teixeira then hugged one of his lawyers, looked at his family and smiled before leaving the courtroom. His family left without commenting to reporters, but his mother and others submitted letters to the court asking for clemency.

“I know Jack deeply regrets his actions and is willing to accept punishment for his part in this situation,” wrote his mother, Dawn Dufault. “While I understand the seriousness of his charges and the importance of ensuring justice, I implore you, your honor, to consider Jack’s true nature and his unique challenges, as I have observed over the years.”

The security breach raised alarm about the country’s ability to protect its best-kept secrets and forced the Biden administration to scramble to try to contain the diplomatic and military fallout. The leaks also embarrassed the Pentagon, which tightened controls to safeguard classified information and sanctioned members who had intentionally failed to take required action on Teixeira’s suspicious behavior.

Earlier in court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan told Talwani that 200 months — a little more than 16 1/2 years — was appropriate given the “historic” damage caused by Teixeira’s failure to aid America’s adversaries. and harm their allies. He also said such a sentence would send a message to any member of the military who might consider similar conduct.

“It will be a warning to the men and women of the American military,” Dolan said. “They are going to tell them that this is what happens if you break your promise, if you betray your country. … They will know the name of the accused. They will know the sentence that the court imposes.”

But Bachrach told the judge Tuesday that 11 years was enough and would equal half the 22-year-old’s life.

“It is a significant, tough and difficult sentence, which will not be easy to serve,” Bachrach said, adding that Talwani should consider that his client was diagnosed with autism.

Defense attorneys described Teixeira as an isolated, autistic individual who spent most of his time online, especially with his Discord community. They said his actions, while criminal, were never intended to “harm the United States” and that he had no criminal record.

“Instead, his intention was to educate his friends about world events to ensure they were not misled by misinformation,” they wrote. “For Jack, the war in Ukraine was his generation’s Second World War or Iraq, and he needed someone to share the experience with.”

Prosecutors responded in court filings that Teixeira did not suffer from any intellectual disabilities and understood that what he was doing was wrong. They wrote that his post-arrest diagnosis of “mild, high-functioning” autism was of “questionable relevance” to the proceedings.

Teixeira, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, was part of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. He worked as a cyber transportation systems specialist, which is essentially an information technology specialist responsible for military communications networks. He remains in the Air National Guard without pay, an Air Force official said.

Authorities said he first wrote classified documents that he accessed and then began sharing photos of files that were marked SECRET and TOP SECRET. Prosecutors also said he tried to cover his tracks before his arrest, and authorities found a smashed tablet, laptop and Xbox gaming console in a trash bin at his home.