Accused leaker Teixeria charged under Espionage Act, taking national defense info, classified docs

The Air National Guardsman arrested by federal agents for allegedly leaking classified Pentagon documents online was charged Friday with unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information and willful retention of classified documents.

He faces charges under the Espionage Act.  

Guardsman Jack Teixeria is reportedly a systems operator, or IT worker, who allegedly uploaded hundreds of pages of sensitive documents about the war in Ukraine into a Discord group chat. 

Discord made a statement that the company is cooperating with the FBI during the ongoing investigation.

During the hearing, in a district court in Boston, his father reportedly yelled, "I love you, Jack!"

Teixeira replied, "I love you Dad," Fox News reports.

The 21-year-old Teixeira did not enter a plea and was ordered to be held until Wednesday for a detention hearing for the investigation. He could face up to 15 years in prison.