One week ago, Reuters reported that Russia or pro-Russian elements are likely responsible for leaking classified U.S. military documents about the war in Ukraine on social media.
The leak prompted a probe by the Justice Department, and U.S. officials believe that the documents were altered to downplay the number of casualties suffered by Russian forces.
The leak may have come from a high position in the intelligence community, such as the CIA or DNI, and the young airman who was arrested for publishing them may have been used as a scapegoat.
The leak’s purpose may have been to force the Biden administration to admit that the war in Ukraine is lost and to push for more surveillance and jobs for the intelligence community.
The media and British intelligence outlet Bellingcat have focused on hunting the leaker rather than the actual leaked files, which cover a wide range of topics beyond the slides on Ukraine that have been discussed publicly.
The leak may have served as a pretext for the Biden administration to expand its monitoring of social media and chatrooms, potentially infringing on Americans’ privacy and freedom of expression.
