Key facts
- The Department of Justice's subpoenas in an investigation related to the Air Force One probe included journalists' families, according to The New York Times.
- The New York Times is seeking court intervention, citing concerns about the regularity of the grand jury's use in the investigation.
- The investigation concerns reporting on security issues with a Qatari-gifted jet intended to serve as Air Force One.
- The Times reported that the requested phone records predate the publication of relevant articles.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued subpoenas as part of an investigation into reporting concerning a Qatari-gifted jet intended for use as Air Force One. According to The New York Times, these subpoenas extended to the families of journalists involved in the reporting.
The New York Times is urging court intervention, with its lawyers stating that the government's actions raise "pressing questions about the conduct of this purported national security investigation and confirm the absence of any regularity in the Department’s use of the grand jury in this case." The company added that the court’s intervention is "urgently required."
The legal dispute is framed as an escalation of efforts to reshape the federal government's power to interfere with news organizations. The reporting in question focused on federal officials' concerns about the security capabilities of the gifted aircraft, which was used by President Trump and other officials for a trip to a July NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. The aircraft was reportedly not used for the return journey due to Secret Service concerns following the resumption of conflict with Iran, opting instead for an older jet.
While the initial subpoenas appeared to target reporting on the aircraft's security, The Times' lawyers highlighted that the requested phone records date back to the beginning of the year, predating the publication of the articles that brought the security concerns to light.