A member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard accused of leaking highly classified military documents on a social media platform is expected to plead guilty in his federal case. The individual is facing six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information, with each count carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The accused, who has been in custody since April, allegedly shared classified military documents related to Russia's war in Ukraine and other sensitive national security topics on a social media platform called Discord. Investigators believe the individual led a private chat group where discussions on various topics, including wars and favorite types of guns, took place.
The accused, who enlisted in the Air National Guard in 2019 and worked as a cyber transport systems specialist, reportedly began sharing military secrets with other Discord users in early 2023. Despite being warned by superiors about mishandling classified information, the accused continued to leak government secrets.
Authorities have not disclosed a clear motive for the leaks but have described the accused as being motivated more by bravado than ideology. Prosecutors have argued for the accused to remain in custody due to concerns about an arsenal of weapons found at the individual's home and a history of disturbing online statements.
The accused's attorneys have sought the individual's release, citing the pretrial release of other high-profile figures in similar cases. However, the judge previously denied the accused's request for release, expressing concerns about community safety and evidence preservation.
The case is set for a change of plea hearing in Boston's federal courthouse, where more details are expected to emerge regarding the accused's guilty plea.
