Key facts
- The Justice Department has subpoenaed New York Times journalists.
- The subpoenas relate to reporting on security concerns about a new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One.
- The journalists are being compelled to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan.
- The subpoenas were delivered directly to some reporters' homes.
- The action has been criticized as an erosion of press freedom.
The Trump administration has issued subpoenas to several New York Times journalists in connection with their reporting on security concerns surrounding a new Air Force One aircraft, a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar. The subpoenas, delivered to reporters' homes, seek to compel them to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan regarding an alleged violation of federal criminal law.
The journalists subpoenaed include Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt. Their reporting indicated that President Donald Trump departed Turkey on an older Air Force One as a security precaution, urged by the Secret Service, and that the newer Qatari-donated plane lacked advanced security features. The stories relied on anonymous sources discussing sensitive security matters.
Before the initial article was published, a senior FBI official reportedly contacted The Times, requesting the story be held due to national security concerns and asking for the disclosure of sources, which the newspaper refused. The Justice Department stated that while reporters are not the targets, investigations into leaks of classified information impacting national security will continue.
Critics, including The Times's newsroom lawyer David McCraw, have condemned the move as an attempt to intimidate journalists and prevent the public from knowing how their government operates, calling it a threat to the Constitution and press freedom.