Suspect of leaking classified Pentagon documents kept in custody pending trial

A federal judge has decided to keep a U.S. Air Force cyber expert accused of leaking top-secret documents in jail awaiting trial after prosecutors said he posed an existing risk to U.S. national security.

Jack Techiera, a 21-year-old IT specialist for the U.S. Air Force National Guard, is believed to have orchestrated a leak of classified documents that did the most damage to the United States by posting a bunch of highly sensitive information in an online chat forum.

The documents, which later spread quickly online, indicate U.S. concern about Ukraine's military capability against invading Russian forces and reveal that Washington spied on allies Israel and South Korea, among other sensitive details.

Techera was brought to the courtroom for this hearing, which was attended by his father and others, handcuffed and dressed in an orange suit.

Judge David Hennessy said that "the evidence supports his detention," noting that "foreign countries know that he is not loyal to the United States" and "did not care about anyone."

Prosecutors said Techira may still have access to classified documents and could be helped escape by "hostile" countries if released, also noting that he has a history of making "violent" statements.

Techira's defence team said his client no longer had access to classified material and that the government was exaggerating the threat he posed, stressing that he should be released and placed in his father's custody pending trial.