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Teixeira, Calling Himself 'Proud Patriot,' Appeals to Trump for Leniency
Teixeira, Calling Himself ‘Proud Patriot,’ Appeals to Trump for Leniency
In pleading guilty during his military-court martial, Jack Teixeira made a direct appeal to President Trump, reflecting a tactic being employed by an increasing number of convicted criminals and their lawyers.
Jack Teixeira, in an undated photo posted to social media.
By Glenn Thrush
Reporting from Washington
March 13, 2025
The Massachusetts Air National Guardsman who pleaded guilty last year to leaking military secrets said on Thursday that he had broken the law to expose Biden administration efforts to aid Ukraine — and appealed to President Trump for leniency, suggesting he had new information to disclose.
The guardsman, Jack Teixeira, who is serving a 15-year sentence in federal prison, made the disclosure after he pleaded guilty during his military court-martial. In a letter he read aloud, he implored Mr. Trump; Kash Patel, the F.B.I. director; and an official who handles pardon requests to intercede on his behalf to prevent a “double-prosecution” that added additional prison time. ... The military judge in the case rejected his request, though she agreed to the terms of the plea deal, which calls for a dishonorable discharge and no jail time.
Mr. Teixeira’s plea to Mr. Trump reflected a tactic being employed by an increasing number of convicted criminals and their lawyers as they seize new opportunities for pardons or commutations under a president who has granted reprieves to violent Capitol rioters and other political allies.
{snip}
Glenn Thrush covers the Department of Justice and has also written about gun violence, civil rights and conditions in the country’s jails and prisons. More about Glenn Thrush
In pleading guilty during his military-court martial, Jack Teixeira made a direct appeal to President Trump, reflecting a tactic being employed by an increasing number of convicted criminals and their lawyers.
Jack Teixeira, in an undated photo posted to social media.
By Glenn Thrush
Reporting from Washington
March 13, 2025
The Massachusetts Air National Guardsman who pleaded guilty last year to leaking military secrets said on Thursday that he had broken the law to expose Biden administration efforts to aid Ukraine — and appealed to President Trump for leniency, suggesting he had new information to disclose.
The guardsman, Jack Teixeira, who is serving a 15-year sentence in federal prison, made the disclosure after he pleaded guilty during his military court-martial. In a letter he read aloud, he implored Mr. Trump; Kash Patel, the F.B.I. director; and an official who handles pardon requests to intercede on his behalf to prevent a “double-prosecution” that added additional prison time. ... The military judge in the case rejected his request, though she agreed to the terms of the plea deal, which calls for a dishonorable discharge and no jail time.
Mr. Teixeira’s plea to Mr. Trump reflected a tactic being employed by an increasing number of convicted criminals and their lawyers as they seize new opportunities for pardons or commutations under a president who has granted reprieves to violent Capitol rioters and other political allies.
{snip}
Glenn Thrush covers the Department of Justice and has also written about gun violence, civil rights and conditions in the country’s jails and prisons. More about Glenn Thrush