Did a National guardsman leak classified documents while at Bragg? Here's what we know

Rachael Riley and F.T. Norton, The Fayetteville Observer
Updated ·2 min read
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Whether or not a Massachusetts Air National guardsman had access to classified information at Fort Bragg has not been confirmed or denied by Fort Bragg representatives or top military officials.

Jack Teixeira, 21, was arrested Thursday and taken to Boston Federal Court in connection with being suspected of leaking classified documents about the war in Ukraine.

Teixeira, of North Dighton, Mass., is a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard at Otis Air National Guard Base.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Teixeira was based at Fort Bragg when the leaks occurred.

What we don't know

Officials at Fort Bragg have not confirmed if or when Teixeira would have had access to the North Carolina post that is the most populated military installation with more than 51,000 service members and home to the 18th Airborne Corps, Special Forces, U.S. Army Reserve Command, Joint Special Operations Command and others.

Attempts to reach representatives of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and North Carolina Air National Guard were not successful as of late Thursday afternoon.

It's not clear if Teixeira was on a temporary duty assignment or training at Fort Bragg at the time documents were leaked or which units Teixeira worked with and what security clearances he's had.

Military officials have not publicly said where the documents were taken from.

If the documents were stolen from Fort Bragg, “We at 18th Airborne Corps do not have knowledge of any leakage or spillage occurring within our formation,” said Maj. Matt Visser, a spokesman for the Corps.

Visser’s comments included the 82nd Airborne, which is under the Corps.

He said he could not speak for the other organizations and units at Fort Bragg.

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Rep. Richard Hudson, whose district includes Fort Bragg, issued a statement Thursday responding to reports of Teixeira's arrest.

“The distribution of sensitive military information of any kind is a direct threat to the integrity and safety of our armed forces,” Hudson said. “I support the FBI’s ongoing investigation as our community and nation deserve to know all the facts as soon as possible.

What we've done

On Thursday, The Fayetteville Observer reached out to Fort Bragg's garrison public affairs officials, 18th Airborne Corps officials, U.S. Army Special Operations Command officials and an Army Reserve spokesperson who all said they do not have access to Air National Guard records.

A Pope Army Airfield spokesperson also said Air Force units here are active duty and they do not have access to National Guard records.

A spokesperson for Seymour Johnson Air Base, which is also in North Carolina, said they also do not have access to Guard records.

Local law enforcement agencies around Fort Bragg reported not having any contact with Teixeira while he was here.

USA Today reporters and Denis Coffey from the Cape Cod Times contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Does classified document leak have a Fort Bragg connection?