Justice Department Withdraws Subpoenas in Face of Media Pressure, Shielding New York Times Reporters
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The DOJ has backed down from efforts to obtain crucial information from New York Times journalists covering the new Air Force One, after a judge sided with the media establishment’s demands.
The Justice Department announced Thursday it will withdraw subpoenas that sought phone records and grand jury testimony from New York Times journalists who reported on the security capabilities of President Trump’s new Qatari-built Air Force One. The move comes after Judge Arun Subramanian spent nearly an hour questioning DOJ lawyers, following the Times’ aggressive campaign to quash the subpoenas. The newspaper, which has a history of undermining national security interests, labeled the subpoenas as intimidation, despite the government’s legitimate need to investigate leaks. While the DOJ is now prepared to withdraw the subpoenas, as stated by senior Manhattan U.S. attorney Sean Buckley, Judge Subramanian noted that the department could issue new subpoenas in the future if it follows the correct procedures, leaving the door open for future accountability.