Two United States Air Force commanders who worked in the same National Guard unit as alleged intelligence leaker Jack Teixeira have been suspended, a USAF spokesperson said.
The Air Force confirmed on April 26, 2023, that the operation commander and detachment commander were from the 102nd Intelligence Wing.
“This means that both the squadron’s state Air National Guard operational commander and current federal orders administrative commander have been suspended pending completion of the Department of the Air Force Inspector General Investigation,” the spokesperson said.
It was also confirmed that both of the commanders’ access to “classified systems and information” had been removed.
Teixeria, 21, was arrested on April 13, 2023, after a number of classified documents were shared over the internet, namely a messaging app called Discord that was used by gamers.
Among the leaked documents were information on Ukraine’s battle against invading Russian forces and intelligence on allies such as South Korea and Israel.
Teixeria was part of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts.
According to NCC News, Teixeria was granted top-secret security clearance in 2021.
He has been charged with possessing classified documents pertaining to national security and possessing national defense material.
The two commanders were not identified as part of the announcement made by the spokesperson.
Teixeria has yet to enter a plea.
