BBC News:
Days after sensitive US defence department documents first began appearing on the internet, one question lingers on the minds of many in the US: Who leaked them, and how?
The documents appear to include classified intelligence regarding the Ukraine-Russia war, as well as on China and US allies such as Israel, South Korea and Canada.
The justice department has opened a criminal investigation to identify the source of the leak, which a high-ranking Pentagon official described this week as “a very serious risk to national security”.
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US will “turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it”.
The leak of the documents – which officials have said are in a format similar to that of documents issued to senior leaders – has also prompted a Pentagon review of how classified documents are shared, and who gets access. The pool of people with access to these documents, officials have said, is relatively small.
While the identity of the leaker remains unknown, experts say that the culprit could face serious criminal charges and potentially, a prison sentence plus heavy financial penalties.
Here’s what we know about the investigation and potential consequences.
