BEDFORD, Mass. — Jack Teixeira, the Massachusetts Air National Guard member who caused an international uproar when he leaked highly classified documents about the war in Ukraine, used his court-martial Thursday to describe himself as a “proud patriot” who was only “exposing and correcting the lies perpetuated by the Biden administration.”

After pleading guilty to military charges of obstructing justice, the 23-year-old acknowledged he knew his actions were illegal but felt he needed to share the truth about how the Biden administration was misleading the American public about the war in Ukraine.

“If I saved one American, Russian or Ukrainian life in this money-grabbing war, my punishment was worth it,” he said, his politicized comments a stark contrast to the contrite apology he issued at his federal sentencing.

Teixeira repeatedly referenced the “deep state” and suggested that he, like President Donald Trump, was a victim of a weaponized Department of Justice. Teixeira said he acted alone.

— The Associated Press