The identity of the person responsible for the U.S. classified documents leak has been revealed.
The individual involved in the incident has been identified as 21-year-old U.S. Army Private Jack Teseira.
Teseira is an active-duty soldier in the Massachusetts Air National Guard and grew up under 'patriot' parents who have worked in military-related fields their entire lives, local media reported.
On the 13th (local time), the U.S. daily The Washington Post (WP) reported that Teseira’s adoptive father, Thomas DeFolt, who was arrested that day, is a retired soldier who served for 34 years and retired as a staff sergeant in 2019, finishing his military career with the 102nd Intelligence Battalion of the National Guard and even held a retirement ceremony.
Teseira’s biological mother, Don DeFolt, is known to have been active for years in civic organizations supporting veterans such as the Massachusetts Military Heroes Fund and has experience working at the Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services.
Growing up in this environment, Teseira naturally followed in his parents’ footsteps by enlisting in the National Guard as soon as he became an adult, coincidentally being assigned to the same 102nd Intelligence Battalion where his adoptive father served.
Although there is no blood relation between father and son, it has been confirmed that they served in the same unit across generations.
On June 3, 2021, Teseira’s mother DeFolt posted on the Facebook account of the flower shop she ran, saying, "Jack is coming home after completing technical school," and "He is now ready to start working in the Air National Guard."
Teseira’s friend, Mr. A, told WP in an interview, "(Teseira) is a patriot, a devout Catholic, and a libertarian," adding, "He was very interested in firearms and had doubts about America’s future."
Mr. A said he met Teseira on the gaming chat platform Discord before 2020. He explained that they became close due to shared interests in Glock pistols and Catholicism.
He joined the Discord server Teseira created called "Thug Shaker Central" and eventually met him in person and socialized.
Recalling their first meeting, Mr. A said, "He had a bit of a temper," and "I felt he was more of a mentor than a leader."
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