Lawmakers Frustrated after Document Leaks Briefing
Lawmakers expressed frustration after a classified briefing about the dozens of classified documents that were leaked online, allegedly by a 21-year-old air man in the Massachusetts Air National Guard who had a top-secret security clearance.
NBC News reports that National Intelligence Director Avril Haines, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security Ronald Moultrie, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Christopher Grady, and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman briefed senators.
Lawmakers of both parties were annoyed after the classified briefing, which was scheduled before suspect Jack Teixeira was arrested.
“I didn’t get a very good explanation of how this could happen," Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said. “I’m just as confused now as I was before the briefing.”
"My impression coming out of that meeting is too many people have too much access to too much information without safeguards or guardrails,” Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) told reporters.
Many of the leaked documents were marked top-secret and included information on U.S. military efforts in Ukraine, as well as information on adversaries such as China and Russia and allies such as Israel and South Korea.
Meanwhile, a federal judge in Boston delayed Teixeira’s detention hearing for two weeks. According to a court filing, Teixeira asked for the delay so his attorneys could have more time to address arguments to keep him in federal custody.
Teixeria has been in federal custody since his arrest on April 13 at his Massachusetts home.
Air Force Launches Probe
The Air Force also launched its own investigation into how Teixeira was able to access and allegedly distribute the classified documents.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told a Senate subcommittee that he directed the Air Force Secretary General to investigate Teixeira’s Air National Guard Unit, which is based at Otis Air Force Base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Secretary Kendall asked the Inspector General to probe compliance with classified safeguards, policies, procedures, and standards in the 102nd Intelligence Wing.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has started limiting access to highly classified daily intelligence briefs and is whittling down its daily distribution list.
And Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin launched a broader review of how classified information is handled across the department.
“As Secretary of Defense, I will also not hesitate to take any additional measures necessary to safeguard our nation’s secrets,” Secretary Austin said.