Biden says US ‘getting close’ to identifying source of intelligence leaks

WASHINGTON (AA) – President Joe Biden has said that his administration is narrowing down the list of individuals that may have been responsible for the leak of a trove of apparently classified US intelligence documents.

Asked about the matter on his first official visit to Ireland as president, Biden told reporters “there’s a full-blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence community and the Justice Department.”

“They’re getting close,” he said, downplaying the importance of the unauthorized disclosures, which he said contain nothing “of great consequence right now.”

The comments came after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pledged to “turn over every rock” until the leaker is identified. The scope of the leak remains unclear with additional documents continuing to be reported on, some of which include embarrassing or sensitive information that has roiled close US allies and partners.

The Justice Department and Pentagon have opened investigations into how the cache was released without authorization and who might have been responsible.

Many are crudely taken photos of documents with markings bearing varying levels of classification and appear to be folded, according to images circulating on social media. Some carry seals of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Pentagon has maintained the documents pose “a very serious risk” to US national security and “have the potential to spread disinformation.”