“Today the Justice Department arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information.” In a press conference, Attorney General Merrick Garland made the announcement that the FBI had arrested Teixeira, a 21-year-old employee of the United States Air Force National Guard. Teixeira allegedly is the source of more than 100 classified U.S. documents that surfaced on social media gaming channels and then spread across the internet over the past several months.
Heather, superb summary of the day’s most important news. Your contrast of how Governor Whitmer and Governor DuhSantis behaved in signing new bills, jumped out at me. Yes, the documents leaker, possibly traitor, was also important, but the juxtaposition of the two polar opposite governors was outstanding. Your indefatigable energy is an inspiration to me on a daily basis. To all of us. Thank you! Have a great weekend.
Many MAGA Republicans are proposing that we arm teachers: this option is dangerous. There is a big difference between handling a firearm at a range and facing a potential shooter and being able to shoot first. We hold special training in boot camp to learn how to kill the enemy. It takes months of special training to turn a civilian into a combat soldier trained to kill. And, elementary teachers would not be my choice for training combat soldiers. So, any showdown between a crazed killer with an AR-15 and a caring teacher with a handgun will not end well. Lastly, an imbalanced student that has no access to a weapon can overpower his/her armed teacher and take their weapon and do damage. Arming teachers makes no sense.
The Republican lawmakers in Tennessee may come to regret the attention they’ve drawn to themselves and their habits of governance.
They are, each of them, going to come to see last Thursday as the very worst day of their lives. Not one of those cockroaches can bear public scrutiny from having the lights turned on, forcing them to scurry to the dark corners from where they emerged.
So very many lies and so much impropriety from the self righteous right. Sexton's lies and his brazen charging the legislature for per diem travel expenses when he lives in Nashville. Will the Tennessee lawmakers expel him for his lies? For his unconstitutional representation of a community where he does not reside (according to the state constitution he must be a resident of the district he represents)? Thomas has shown nothing but contempt for any who call him out for impropriety - as far back as his confirmation hearings. He showed then who he was, but by playing the victim, and even the proverbial "race card" he has skated by many and sundry violations. His wife is his partner in crime. Discipline these! Hold them to account.
The espionage story is extremely troubling for several reasons.
How could a 21 year old get clearance to handle top secret documents?
How was he able to hand copy and then take photos of them if he was in a secure facility? If you are in a secure facility you cannot have a personal phone with you.
Interviews with two teenage followers of Texiera's on-line cult claim there were people from all over the world, including Russia and Ukraine who were members of the group. The Russian intelligence agency is known to infiltrate gamer groups on platforms like discord because they lure in so many hackers and military and former military.
At the very least there has to be a major review of the security breach. I don't know which is scairer--if Texiera was able to do this on his own, or if he is was aided and abetted by someone higher up in the security apparatus, or is a Russian puppet.
Here is a structural problem: Access to secret US data -- Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning, and now Jack Teixeira. We only get a glimpse, but it appears that far people than necessary have access; far more people than necessary creates opportunities that do the country harm. We need a top to bottom review of how secrets are handled and how much of what we consider secret should actually be public knowledge.
Here is another: Without a code of justice, the US Supreme Court creates suspicion about everything. Whether the question is Justice Thomas's ties to a billionaire friend or Chief Justice Roberts' wife's work, the lack of a code of ethics leaves the justices and those who judge them without guidance. We need Congress to impose a code of ethics if the Supremes won't adopt one.
Here is a third: When Donald Trump became president he scrapped the Executive Order that set ethical standards for the executive branch. Joe Biden restored that Executive Order. Ethical standards should not vary according to administration. Here, too, we need Congress to impose a code of ethics for the Executive Branch even though this administration has adopted standards.
The Republican legislators in TN also appear to have held a private meeting after their vote to berate their fellow representatives for not voting to expel the white woman.
Except someone - presumably someone in the Republican caucus TAPED the meeting and released the tape to the media.
I'm also going to point out that I find it unlikely that none of his fellow representatives didn't notice that the speaker was filing fraudulent per diem claims for the last few years. So my question becomes - how many other legislators don't actually live in their district and how many others have been lying on their per diem reports?
At this moment, it looks like Republicans in Tennessee have committed political hari kari all because they wanted to punish two black men for being "uppity."
Another letter to disturb our sleep and to wake up any Americans who believe we are still a two party system. Your statement: “It makes sense that Trump supporters who are concerned about the former president’s similar behavior will do their best to downplay Teixeira’s case.” Maybe they should worry if the court cases against tfg stack up the facts and indict him. Trump supporters and elected repubs have ignored, downplayed and lied about his criminal and dangerous behavior and possible treason. Yes, those documents at Mar-a-Lago? And it’s not just tfg. We know Heritage and Claremont project and other extreme groups and individuals are running the show, including supplying a list of Supreme Court candidates ready to vote against gun laws, voting laws, women’s right to choose, abortion, even what meds women can take. And what books can line the shelves of public schools. And corporations and wealthy supporters including even the latest revelations of possible payoffs to Justices. Add that to the repub party’s official meetings with Viktor Orban and we should worry about the entire repub party. Democrats need more seats in the House and Senate. This seems like a broken record: Wake Up America.
You know, I just don’t see a good or decent person in the Republican Party. Not. A. One. There hasn’t been an effective leader on “their” side since Eisenhower and that’s when I was small child. I am ancient now and all I see is so much garbage and filth the GQP’ers have in their arsenal. They are embarrassing our nation, ALL of them!
Elections these days are turning into exciting events for me. It's my Super Bowl.....I can't wait to find out how many more Republicans we can kick to the curb. It's just plain lunacy to see what they are doing....thank heaven they are too stupid to see the forest because too many trees are in the way. LOL
I am gobsmacked that an airman in the Massachusetts Air Force National Guard had access to top secret/Codeword Communications Intelligence (COMINT) materials. That he could photograph these (ineptly) and post them on an internet site to ‘impress’ his buddies makes his crime no less horrific.
My first job in the State Department was in the ‘Office of Current Intelligence,’ which was a euphemism for the most secret department that processed NSA COMINT for top government officials. We would process these intercepts, hand carry them to senior State officials, and prepare a highly restricted daily Diplomatic Summary for the White House and a few other TS/Codeword customers. At State we never left this material with anyone, including The Secretary.
Because of the sensitivity of the materials (and the fact that we were spying on many dozen countries—from close allies to enemies—) made security an overriding priority.
The material casually posted by Teixeira is one of the most damaging intelligence catastrophes in American history.
First it relates to operational situation (in contrast to The Pentagon Papers, which were purloined historical documents about our screw up in Vietnam.) It reveals some of our most sensitive intelligence sources:
1) In cyber intelligence, the Russians will see how deeply we have penetrated their cyber systems and can quite easily block our access;
2) From South Korea to Egypt and Ukraine, dozens of countries face public exposure that the United States has been intercepting and decoding their diplomatic and military messages. I believe that our doing this with sensitive UN communications have also been exposed.
3) Sensitive tactical information regarding American policies and day-to-day operations have been revealed both to our enemies and to our allies. Not only is this embarrassing. It also makes our allies reticent to discuss truly confidential matters with us.
Second, I am astonished that an airman at the Massachusetts Air Force National Guard had easy access to this super sensitive material. Why anyone at Otis Air Force Base would receive such intelligence I find mInd boggling.
What has resulted has unfortunate short-term implications. Longer term, it will be more difficult for our allies to trust us, while our enemies will be able to devise cyber counter measures to correct leaks in their cyber systems.
Sadly, because of the vast number of Americans who have access to highly sensitive intelligence materials, such a massive intelligence breach will almost certainly occur soon again. Photos with an iPhone or use of a thumb gizmo will permit us all to read this top secret stuff.
Thanks Heather. We have seen the renegade Republicans, Christian nationalists, and white supremacists go full bore in dismantling democracy and the Republic. Now we are beginning to see that the public is tired of their outstripping rhyme and reason to satisfy their small constituency and Trump, who has inspired all their actions.
We may be able to defeat the legislative assault, but the Supreme Court may prove to be much more difficult, as they too, serve that small party. I don't know what we have beyond impeachment, which is not going to happen with the GOP controlling the House, and public pressure. Clarence Thomas behavior and John Roberts inability to act to rein in the Court may be the wedge we need there.
We have a combination of voter ignorance and a surprising number of people willing to destroy the nation in order to maintain their power over social progress. This overshadows the Civil War in terms of its damage to democracy.
Maybe this is what is necessary to make people take notice.
Roberts immediately got things rolling with the Alito leak but somehow is deciding to slow walk investigations into Thomas. SCOTUS needs to be fumigated.
From the AG's reported press conference: " ... Teixeira, a 21-year-old employee of the United States Air Force National Guard ...". A stickler might suggest that being a "member" of the ANG would be a more appropriate form of address. Such a military member would have taken the standard oath of office to support and defend the Constitution of the US. The presidential oath of office has slightly different wording at this point: " ... to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution ...". The young man is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and at a possible trial for espionage, I would almost expect a military court rather than civilian. The press coverage of the arrest noted it was the FBI, not military security, doing the job. Jurisdiction aside, the parallels of Airman Teixeira's actions with those of our former president are marked and undeniable--as were their oaths of office. I would dearly hope that equal and appropriate justice would be dispensed to any individuals tried for such deliberate mishandling of highly classified information.
Heather, superb summary of the day’s most important news. Your contrast of how Governor Whitmer and Governor DuhSantis behaved in signing new bills, jumped out at me. Yes, the documents leaker, possibly traitor, was also important, but the juxtaposition of the two polar opposite governors was outstanding. Your indefatigable energy is an inspiration to me on a daily basis. To all of us. Thank you! Have a great weekend.
Many MAGA Republicans are proposing that we arm teachers: this option is dangerous. There is a big difference between handling a firearm at a range and facing a potential shooter and being able to shoot first. We hold special training in boot camp to learn how to kill the enemy. It takes months of special training to turn a civilian into a combat soldier trained to kill. And, elementary teachers would not be my choice for training combat soldiers. So, any showdown between a crazed killer with an AR-15 and a caring teacher with a handgun will not end well. Lastly, an imbalanced student that has no access to a weapon can overpower his/her armed teacher and take their weapon and do damage. Arming teachers makes no sense.
The Republican lawmakers in Tennessee may come to regret the attention they’ve drawn to themselves and their habits of governance.
They are, each of them, going to come to see last Thursday as the very worst day of their lives. Not one of those cockroaches can bear public scrutiny from having the lights turned on, forcing them to scurry to the dark corners from where they emerged.
So very many lies and so much impropriety from the self righteous right. Sexton's lies and his brazen charging the legislature for per diem travel expenses when he lives in Nashville. Will the Tennessee lawmakers expel him for his lies? For his unconstitutional representation of a community where he does not reside (according to the state constitution he must be a resident of the district he represents)? Thomas has shown nothing but contempt for any who call him out for impropriety - as far back as his confirmation hearings. He showed then who he was, but by playing the victim, and even the proverbial "race card" he has skated by many and sundry violations. His wife is his partner in crime. Discipline these! Hold them to account.
The espionage story is extremely troubling for several reasons.
How could a 21 year old get clearance to handle top secret documents?
How was he able to hand copy and then take photos of them if he was in a secure facility? If you are in a secure facility you cannot have a personal phone with you.
Interviews with two teenage followers of Texiera's on-line cult claim there were people from all over the world, including Russia and Ukraine who were members of the group. The Russian intelligence agency is known to infiltrate gamer groups on platforms like discord because they lure in so many hackers and military and former military.
At the very least there has to be a major review of the security breach. I don't know which is scairer--if Texiera was able to do this on his own, or if he is was aided and abetted by someone higher up in the security apparatus, or is a Russian puppet.
Here is a structural problem: Access to secret US data -- Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning, and now Jack Teixeira. We only get a glimpse, but it appears that far people than necessary have access; far more people than necessary creates opportunities that do the country harm. We need a top to bottom review of how secrets are handled and how much of what we consider secret should actually be public knowledge.
Here is another: Without a code of justice, the US Supreme Court creates suspicion about everything. Whether the question is Justice Thomas's ties to a billionaire friend or Chief Justice Roberts' wife's work, the lack of a code of ethics leaves the justices and those who judge them without guidance. We need Congress to impose a code of ethics if the Supremes won't adopt one.
Here is a third: When Donald Trump became president he scrapped the Executive Order that set ethical standards for the executive branch. Joe Biden restored that Executive Order. Ethical standards should not vary according to administration. Here, too, we need Congress to impose a code of ethics for the Executive Branch even though this administration has adopted standards.
The Republican legislators in TN also appear to have held a private meeting after their vote to berate their fellow representatives for not voting to expel the white woman.
Except someone - presumably someone in the Republican caucus TAPED the meeting and released the tape to the media.
I'm also going to point out that I find it unlikely that none of his fellow representatives didn't notice that the speaker was filing fraudulent per diem claims for the last few years. So my question becomes - how many other legislators don't actually live in their district and how many others have been lying on their per diem reports?
At this moment, it looks like Republicans in Tennessee have committed political hari kari all because they wanted to punish two black men for being "uppity."
Another letter to disturb our sleep and to wake up any Americans who believe we are still a two party system. Your statement: “It makes sense that Trump supporters who are concerned about the former president’s similar behavior will do their best to downplay Teixeira’s case.” Maybe they should worry if the court cases against tfg stack up the facts and indict him. Trump supporters and elected repubs have ignored, downplayed and lied about his criminal and dangerous behavior and possible treason. Yes, those documents at Mar-a-Lago? And it’s not just tfg. We know Heritage and Claremont project and other extreme groups and individuals are running the show, including supplying a list of Supreme Court candidates ready to vote against gun laws, voting laws, women’s right to choose, abortion, even what meds women can take. And what books can line the shelves of public schools. And corporations and wealthy supporters including even the latest revelations of possible payoffs to Justices. Add that to the repub party’s official meetings with Viktor Orban and we should worry about the entire repub party. Democrats need more seats in the House and Senate. This seems like a broken record: Wake Up America.
You know, I just don’t see a good or decent person in the Republican Party. Not. A. One. There hasn’t been an effective leader on “their” side since Eisenhower and that’s when I was small child. I am ancient now and all I see is so much garbage and filth the GQP’ers have in their arsenal. They are embarrassing our nation, ALL of them!
Elections these days are turning into exciting events for me. It's my Super Bowl.....I can't wait to find out how many more Republicans we can kick to the curb. It's just plain lunacy to see what they are doing....thank heaven they are too stupid to see the forest because too many trees are in the way. LOL
I am gobsmacked that an airman in the Massachusetts Air Force National Guard had access to top secret/Codeword Communications Intelligence (COMINT) materials. That he could photograph these (ineptly) and post them on an internet site to ‘impress’ his buddies makes his crime no less horrific.
My first job in the State Department was in the ‘Office of Current Intelligence,’ which was a euphemism for the most secret department that processed NSA COMINT for top government officials. We would process these intercepts, hand carry them to senior State officials, and prepare a highly restricted daily Diplomatic Summary for the White House and a few other TS/Codeword customers. At State we never left this material with anyone, including The Secretary.
Because of the sensitivity of the materials (and the fact that we were spying on many dozen countries—from close allies to enemies—) made security an overriding priority.
The material casually posted by Teixeira is one of the most damaging intelligence catastrophes in American history.
First it relates to operational situation (in contrast to The Pentagon Papers, which were purloined historical documents about our screw up in Vietnam.) It reveals some of our most sensitive intelligence sources:
1) In cyber intelligence, the Russians will see how deeply we have penetrated their cyber systems and can quite easily block our access;
2) From South Korea to Egypt and Ukraine, dozens of countries face public exposure that the United States has been intercepting and decoding their diplomatic and military messages. I believe that our doing this with sensitive UN communications have also been exposed.
3) Sensitive tactical information regarding American policies and day-to-day operations have been revealed both to our enemies and to our allies. Not only is this embarrassing. It also makes our allies reticent to discuss truly confidential matters with us.
Second, I am astonished that an airman at the Massachusetts Air Force National Guard had easy access to this super sensitive material. Why anyone at Otis Air Force Base would receive such intelligence I find mInd boggling.
What has resulted has unfortunate short-term implications. Longer term, it will be more difficult for our allies to trust us, while our enemies will be able to devise cyber counter measures to correct leaks in their cyber systems.
Sadly, because of the vast number of Americans who have access to highly sensitive intelligence materials, such a massive intelligence breach will almost certainly occur soon again. Photos with an iPhone or use of a thumb gizmo will permit us all to read this top secret stuff.
If there were 7 deadly sins of democracy, gerrymandering would be number 1.
Thanks Heather. We have seen the renegade Republicans, Christian nationalists, and white supremacists go full bore in dismantling democracy and the Republic. Now we are beginning to see that the public is tired of their outstripping rhyme and reason to satisfy their small constituency and Trump, who has inspired all their actions.
We may be able to defeat the legislative assault, but the Supreme Court may prove to be much more difficult, as they too, serve that small party. I don't know what we have beyond impeachment, which is not going to happen with the GOP controlling the House, and public pressure. Clarence Thomas behavior and John Roberts inability to act to rein in the Court may be the wedge we need there.
We have a combination of voter ignorance and a surprising number of people willing to destroy the nation in order to maintain their power over social progress. This overshadows the Civil War in terms of its damage to democracy.
Maybe this is what is necessary to make people take notice.
Roberts immediately got things rolling with the Alito leak but somehow is deciding to slow walk investigations into Thomas. SCOTUS needs to be fumigated.
From the AG's reported press conference: " ... Teixeira, a 21-year-old employee of the United States Air Force National Guard ...". A stickler might suggest that being a "member" of the ANG would be a more appropriate form of address. Such a military member would have taken the standard oath of office to support and defend the Constitution of the US. The presidential oath of office has slightly different wording at this point: " ... to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution ...". The young man is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), and at a possible trial for espionage, I would almost expect a military court rather than civilian. The press coverage of the arrest noted it was the FBI, not military security, doing the job. Jurisdiction aside, the parallels of Airman Teixeira's actions with those of our former president are marked and undeniable--as were their oaths of office. I would dearly hope that equal and appropriate justice would be dispensed to any individuals tried for such deliberate mishandling of highly classified information.
Bill Stewart
Lt Col, USAF (ret.)
It is incredulous that this just one days news. Geez!