CBS News aired an image of a “cache of weapons” owned by a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of leaking classified military documents, but viewers who came across the image on social media pointed out that the weapons in question appeared to be Airsoft guns.
“CBS Mornings” shared images from inside the bedroom of 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, who is accused of posting classified materials on the social media platform Discord.
Prosecutors have asked that Teixira be denied bail in part because of his access to weapons.
They have also expressed concerns that he is a flight risk, The Associated Press reported.
CBS reporter Catherine Herridge reported Thursday morning that the young man’s bedroom contained a “cache of weapons and tactical gear.”
In a clip shared on Twitter by both “CBS Mornings” and Herridge, three rifles and a number of magazines can be seen sitting at the foot of a bed in one photograph.
According to a newly-filed memo, the Air National Guardsman accused of leaking classified materials had a cache of weapons and tactical gear surrounding his bed, reports @CBS_Herridge.
He also has a long history of making racist and antisemitic comments, prosecutors say. pic.twitter.com/SvW5qJ2kcv
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) April 27, 2023
CBS and Herridge apparently did not pay close attention to the image, as each rifle appears to have an orange plastic tip — which would indicate that they are not actual firearms.
Sharpe-eyed Twitter users were quick to point the detail out:
Uh, toys. A cache of toys. See the red tips?
— DJ Biscuit (@WBVT_98FM) April 28, 2023
https://twitter.com/DonutOperator/status/1651636794847371267?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1651636794847371267%7Ctwgr%5Ece8480293bca36a31feed6455ec6aa1a07c5de45%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.westernjournal.com%2Fsharp-eyed-viewers-notice-something-strange-cache-weapons-found-national-guard-leakers-room%2F
According to CBS Mornings, CBS Herridge can't discern the difference between airsoft guns from actual firearms
— ☠️ Inquisitor Aurora Dawn ⛓️ (@AuroraAfterglow) April 28, 2023
This is exactly why legacy media is dead
Twitter is media now— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) April 28, 2023
Teixeira was arrested two weeks ago following a massive effort to find the source of leaks of documents related to top-secret security issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war.
He has been charged under the Espionage Act but has not yet entered a plea.
But, but, but… You do understand it if looks like a gun, it might just be a real gun, don’t you? Ban it anyway!!! These fools don’t know an AR–15 from an Armalte — or a Daisy.