Accused leaker ‘should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,’ some say

Some politicians reacted swiftly after Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Douglas Teixeira was arrested Thursday for his alleged involvement in leaking classified U.S. government and military documents online.

The FBI took the 21-year-old Teixeira into custody without incident at a home in North Dighton, an FBI spokesperson confirmed Thursday afternoon.

A short time after his arrest, reaction poured in about Teixeira’s alleged involvement --- and how justice should be served in this case.

“Any individuals who shared classified documents betrayed their country and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Newton.

Congressman Seth Moulton, D-Salem, called the intelligence leak a threat to all Americans and “a cowardly and extraordinarily reckless criminal act.”

“Leaking classified material threatens all of our lives. It directly threatens the lives of the brave Americans who collect intelligence; it cuts off our means to collect vital intelligence in the future; it undermines our foreign policy; it undermines our allies; and it emboldens our adversaries. These things make every American less safe,” Moulton said in a statement.

“Let’s also be clear: This is not whistleblowing. It is a cowardly and extraordinarily reckless criminal act. With an active war in Europe and China ratcheting up tensions in the Pacific, this document leak could have far-ranging implications, most of which we’ve yet to fully realize. Most concerning is its impact on our ability to collect the intelligence to keep us safe in the future,” Moulton said. “I trust that the FBI’s investigation will be thorough, and that the administration will take the necessary steps to ensure that this is handled judiciously and will not happen again.”

The FBI is continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the home in North Dighton, the agency said in a statement Thursday.

“Since late last week the FBI has aggressively pursued investigative leads, and today’s arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing, and holding accountable those who betray our country’s trust and put our national security at risk,” the FBI said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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