Air Force disciplines 15 airmen who failed to crack down on leak of classified documents

The Air Force has disciplined 15 personnel with ranks ranging from sergeant to colonel in a crackdown after Airman Jack Teixeira's protracted efforts to post hundreds of classified documents online, endangering U.S. national security secrets, the Air Force said.

A “culture of complacency” and a lack of oversight and vision persisted at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, allowing Teixeira, 21, to to proceed with sharing sensitive documents on the social media platform Discord, the Air Force said Monday in a report to Congress, first The Washington Post reported. Teixeira's superiors neglected to restrict computer access to classified networks and alerted the appropriate authorities when Teixeira began exhibiting suspicious activity, the Air Force inspector general said. Found.

“Every airman and custodian has a solemn duty to safeguard our nation's classified defense information. When there is a breach of this sacred trust, for any reason, we will act in accordance with our laws and policies to hold accountable the people responsible,” said Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. said in a statement.

Beginning Sept. 7, the Air Force took administrative action against those deemed complicit in allowing Teixeira to remove photos or documents containing highly classified intelligence products over a period of months, according to the statement.

The Air Force relieved Col. Sean Riley of his command of the 102nd IW. Riley and Col. Enrique Dovalo, the commander of the 102nd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group, were also placed under administrative action “due to concerns with unit culture and compliance with policies and standards,” says the statement.

Supervisors previously suspended during the initial investigation into the incident were permanently fired, while the 102nd leftovers off mission The Air Force barred Teixeira's unit from its usual roles, which included “global precision intelligence and command and control.” seconds on the website.

“Individuals in Teixeira's unit failed to take appropriate action after becoming aware of his intelligence-seeking activities. However, the investigation found no evidence that members of Teixeira's chain of supervision were in the current of his alleged unauthorized disclosures,” according to the Air Force report.

Additionally, the 102nd Intelligence Wing's leadership was not “vigilant” in monitoring the conduct of those under their responsibility, the report said. Leadership did not adequately prioritize mission security by failing to take the necessary actions to fully or effectively perform their duties.

“Our national security demands that leaders at every level protect critical assets, ensuring they do not fall into the hands of those who would harm the United States or our allies and partners,” Kendall said.

Teixeira faces indicted on six counts related to the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive national defense information and is currently awaiting a trial date.

The Air Force inspector general completed his investigation in August, but did not confirm that or the probe's findings until Monday after the Post alerted the service that it planned to release a multi-part investigation into the leaks

The Air Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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