The reversal mirrors a similar move in June, when the department dropped subpoenas requiring journalists from the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal to appear before federal courts.
Federal Subpoenas and National Security Concerns
Journalists Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt received federal subpoenas on July 10. According to prosecutors, the reporters were summoned to appear before a federal grand jury in New York following the publication of stories that questioned the safety of a new Air Force One aircraft gifted to President Donald Trump by Qatar.
While the Trump administration maintained it intended to pursue criminal charges against the sources of the leaks rather than the reporters, the issued subpoenas sought to compel journalists to reveal those confidential sources, as reported by Reuters.
Reporting on Air Force One Fleet Changes
Citing anonymous sources, the journalists reported that White House officials decided Trump would not use the new Air Force One—at least for the initial leg of his journey—while returning from a NATO summit in Ankara. The president had flown to the two-day meeting in Turkey aboard the new aircraft.
The reporting explained that the switch occurred because the luxury Boeing 747-8 lacked the advanced defense systems, including anti-missile countermeasures, found on the older presidential aircraft model. President Trump disputed these claims in a post on Truth Social, stating that the new Air Force One was routed to RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom so American service members stationed there could view it.
David McCraw, the chief legal counsel for The New York Times, criticized the initial use of subpoenas. McCraw stated that the appearance of federal law enforcement agents at the homes of journalists should shock any American who believes in the constitution and freedom of the press.
Did you know?
Federal prosecutors dropped similar grand jury subpoenas earlier this year that had targeted reporters from both the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were New York Times journalists subpoenaed?
Federal prosecutors issued subpoenas to compel journalists Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt to testify before a grand jury regarding leaked information about Air Force One safety.
According to prosecutors, articles based on leaks concerning classified defense information presented a significant national security concern.
How did the news organization respond to the legal actions?
The New York Times chief legal counsel, David McCraw, condemned the tactics, stating that federal law enforcement visiting journalists’ homes undermines constitutional protections for a free press.
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