The intelligence mission at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts will resume Friday after a lengthy suspension, the Air Force announced Thursday.
The 102nd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group had its intelligence mission suspended following the arrest of airman Jack Teixeira, who has since pleaded guilty to leaking hundreds of classified Pentagon documents. In March, he was sentenced to a maximum of 17 years in jail on six counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information, and he now faces a possible court-martial.
Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, head of Air Combat Command, approved the resumption of the intelligence mission, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told the Washington Examiner.
“The recertification process was authorized after the completion of the secretary of the Air Force and Air Combat Command inspector general reinspection of the 102nd Intelligence Wing and after a new organizational structure was implemented to enhance oversight of ISRG operations,” Stefanek said.
The inspector general’s investigation found people in Teixeira’s unit failed to take proper action after becoming aware of his intelligence-seeking activities, but investigators did not find evidence that members of Teixeira’s supervisory chain were aware of his alleged unauthorized disclosures.
He leaked hundreds of documents via the Discord app over several months before they were discovered by the U.S. military. At first, he began taking notes on classified intelligence to share with his friends on Discord but then stopped when he got concerned others were on to him. Teixeira then decided to print intelligence out, take it home with him, photograph it, and post the photos online.
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He was able to share classified information with his friends online for months before defense leaders caught on. Several of the documents he released showed sensitive details about Ukraine’s and Russia’s militaries, including battlefield assessments.
The Air Force initiated disciplinary action against 15 officers for dereliction in the performance of duties related to Teixeira’s leaks. Col. Sean Riley, 102 Intelligence Wing commander, received administrative action and was relieved of command for cause.