DOJ Withdraws Subpoenas Amid Media Outcry Over National Security Reporting on Qatar-Gifted Presidential Jet
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A federal judge directed the Justice Department to withdraw grand-jury subpoenas for New York Times reporters after their coverage of security features on the president's new Qatar-funded Air Force One replacement, raising questions about media interference in sensitive national security matters.
The Justice Department announced Thursday it would withdraw grand-jury subpoenas issued to several New York Times reporters. The subpoenas came after the Times published articles scrutinizing the security features of a $400 million aircraft donated by Qatar to replace Air Force One, highlighting the absence of anti-missile systems found on previous models.
During a hearing, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian pressed senior Manhattan prosecutor Sean Buckley on whether the subpoenas met the legal requirement to exhaust all other sources before compelling journalists to testify. The judge emphasized that such subpoenas should be a 'last step, not the first step,' and that authorities must make 'reasonable attempts' to obtain information elsewhere.
Buckley acknowledged the department’s reliance on an exception cited by the attorney general, but after further questioning, agreed to withdraw the subpoenas and committed to following proper procedures in the future.
The Times’ legal team argued that the subpoenas infringed on press-freedom protections and were issued in response to their reporting. Senior vice-president and deputy general counsel David McCraw claimed the decision affirmed the country’s commitment to a free press and that the Times would continue reporting without fear.
The Justice Department, while complying with the judge’s order, issued a statement reaffirming that the grand jury retains the right to hear testimony from material witnesses in national-security investigations and that the investigation remains active—underscoring the ongoing need to balance press freedom with the imperative to protect national security.