Justice Department withdraws subpoenas that would have compelled Washington Post and Wall Street Journal reporters to testify before grand jury
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The Justice Department rescinded subpoenas seeking testimony from journalists at The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, ending a rare attempt to compel reporters to appear before a grand jury.
The Justice Department issued subpoenas earlier this week that would have required reporters from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal to testify before a grand jury, but the subpoenas were withdrawn, officials familiar with the matter said. The Washington Post confirmed that national-security reporter Ellen Nakashima had been served with a subpoena, which was later rescinded. The newspaper’s spokesperson said the subpoena represented a violation of press freedom and pledged continued support for its journalists.
A Wall Street Journal spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to discuss the specific subpoenas, describing the matter as a grand-jury issue, and emphasized that the department values the role of reporters while continuing investigations into alleged leaks of classified information.
Mark Schoeff Jr., a reporter and president of the National Press Club, described the attempt to compel journalists to testify as an aggressive action against a free press.
The Justice Department’s policies on media leaks have evolved over time, and the use of grand-jury subpoenas to compel reporters to reveal sources remains extremely uncommon.