US court martial convenes for Pentagon leaker already facing 15 years behind bars
Jack Teixeira is facing military charges after already being sentenced to prison for leaking classified material
Teixeira pleaded guilty last year to six counts of wilful retention and transmission of national defence information under the Espionage Act. He faces additional military charges of disobeying orders and obstructing justice in the court martial.
His lawyer, Lieutenant Colonel Bradley Poronsky, argued that the obstructing justice charge should either be dismissed or go unpunished, saying it amounts to double jeopardy because it already factored into Teixeira’s November sentencing.
Lieutenant Colonel Peter Havern for the prosecution argued against dismissal, saying the charge involves different conduct at a different time than the acts that obstructed justice in the federal case.
Judge Vicki Marcus took the defence motion under advisement and said the proceedings would resume on Thursday. Regarding the disobeying orders charge, the court acknowledged there is a plea agreement but neither side offered any details. The court is expected to go over the details of the agreement with Teixeira on Thursday.
