Justice Department withdraws subpoenas that would have compelled Washington Post and Wall Street Journal reporters to testify before 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reporters from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal to testify before a grand jury, but the subpoenas were withdrawn, officials familiar with the matter said.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Post confirmed that national-security reporter Ellen Nakashima had been served with a subpoena, which was later rescinded.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.