Trump administration subpoenas New York Times reporters over Air Force One story

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan delivered subpoenas on Friday to four New York Times reporters, ordering them to testify before a grand jury on Wednesday, the newspaper said. The subpoenas follow the Times' report that the president’s newly delivered Air Force One, a jet gifted by Qatar, may lack certain advanced security features, prompting a mid-flight aircraft swap during a recent trip to Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The journalists named were Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt. The paper noted that agents handed some of the subpoenas to the reporters at their homes. No comment was received from the White House or the Department of Justice when asked for a response.

"The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects," said David McCraw, a Times attorney.

The administration has previously issued subpoenas to reporters at other outlets, which were later withdrawn. The White House denied any security deficiencies in the new aircraft, with spokesperson Steven Cheung stating that the plane is equipped with high-level security protocols.

The Times report, based on anonymous sources, said the Secret Service advised the aircraft change because the newer jet lacked some anti-missile capabilities present on the older model. President Trump dismissed the suggestion of a security threat, posting on social media that the stop in England was intended for service members to view the new jet.