The young US soldier, accused of leaking confidential documents, particularly on the war in Ukraine, on an online forum, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday.
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Air National Guard recruit Jack Teixeira, 21, was arrested in April. Based on a base in Cape Cod, near Boston, where he worked as a computer and communications specialist, he is accused of having published secret information in a discussion group of the social network Discord, which from there spread to other social networks became .
He faces six counts of possessing and distributing information related to national defense. Each of them is punished with a prison sentence of up to ten years.
The young man appeared before a judge in Worcester, Massachusetts on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty, according to court documents.
His lawyer requested his release pending trial, which the judge refused.
Pictures of Jack Teixeira’s arrest by federal police outside his family’s home went viral around the world days after the revelations broke in the American press.
In particular, the secret documents had expressed the concerns of the American intelligence services regarding the feasibility of a Ukrainian counter-offensive against Russian forces. They also suggested that Washington gather intelligence on its closest allies, including Israel and South Korea.
The case embarrassed Washington and raised questions about possible security breaches because the young soldier held a secret defense clearance that gave him access to this sensitive information despite his low rank.