The U.S. Department of Justice subpoenas four reporters from The New York Times to testify over reporting on security concerns regarding President Trump’s new "Air Force One"
The U.S. Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to four reporters from The New York Times, demanding they appear before a federal grand jury in Manhattan to testify about their reporting on security concerns related to President Donald Trump’s new "Air Force One." The move has drawn strong criticism from press freedom groups, who argue it further suppresses press freedom and represents the latest action by the Trump administration in pursuing government leaks.
According to The New York Times, the four journalists subpoenaed are Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt. They are scheduled to testify next week before the Manhattan federal grand jury, with some subpoenas delivered directly to the reporters’ homes by federal agents.
Insiders revealed that FBI Director Kash Patel recently met with Department of Justice officials at the White House to discuss the investigation and had spoken directly with Trump. Subsequently, the DOJ issued the subpoenas, which many believe are tied to an investigation into the alleged leak of information concerning the new Air Force One.
The incident originated when The New York Times reported, citing anonymous sources, that although Trump flew to the NATO summit in Turkey aboard a newly upgraded Air Force One—financed by Qatar at a cost of $400 million—he returned to the United States via an older model aircraft. He flew from Turkey to RAF Mildenhall in the UK, then switched back to the new plane for the final leg of the journey.
The report stated that the U.S. Secret Service recommended using the older aircraft due to safety concerns: the new plane lacked certain high-level defense systems present on the previous presidential aircraft, including anti-missile capabilities. This concern arose shortly after the U.S. military conducted airstrikes against Iran, and Iran retaliated by attacking several Arab nations in the Persian Gulf. Given Turkey’s proximity to Iran, public concern grew over the president’s air safety.
Trump denied that the change in aircraft was due to security issues, stating, “There were no safety concerns—just that we sent the plane ahead early so the crew could check it out.” However, when asked if he feared Iranian threats to Air Force One, Trump replied, “I’ve always been threatened—I’m number one on their list.”
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung also denied any security flaws in the new aircraft, saying, “The new Air Force One is an advanced aircraft equipped with top-tier security measures, fully capable of ensuring the safety of the president and his team.” He added that the government would also use tactics such as misinformation and distraction to counteract security threats facing the president.
The New York Times noted that prior to publishing the story, a senior FBI official had requested the newspaper delay publication on national security grounds—but provided no specific explanation. After the article was published, the DOJ launched a leak investigation, and the subpoenas now require the four reporters to testify before the grand jury regarding “a suspected violation of criminal law.”
The DOJ emphasized that the investigation targets individuals who leaked classified information, not the media itself. In a statement, the DOJ clarified: “It must be made clear that journalists are not the focus of this investigation—the real target is those who leaked classified information.”
The statement underscored that while the DOJ values press freedom, it also bears the responsibility to ensure that individuals entrusted with national secrets do not disclose them to the media. The government will not halt investigations into leaks involving national security.
The New York Times said it plans to challenge the subpoenas legally. The paper’s legal counsel, David McCraw, stated, “Federal law enforcement officers showing up at journalists’ doorsteps should shock anyone who believes in the U.S. Constitution and its guarantee of press freedom.” He added, “This open act can only be seen as an attempt to intimidate journalists, preventing the public from learning what is truly happening in our country.”
Multiple press freedom organizations have also condemned the DOJ’s actions.
Bruce D. Brown, chairman of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said Trump’s “war” on the media is now targeting new victims. He criticized the subpoenas as violating the long-standing principle that journalists should only be compelled to testify after all other investigative avenues have been exhausted.
The Freedom of the Press Foundation argued that when governments use national security as justification to investigate journalists, they are typically protecting their own reputation rather than genuinely safeguarding national security.
This case marks another instance of increased pressure on the news media since Trump’s return to the White House. Earlier this year, the DOJ issued subpoenas to reporters from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, seeking cooperation in national security leak investigations. However, these were withdrawn after media outlets raised legal objections.
Additionally, in April, the DOJ rescinded a policy introduced under former President Joe Biden that restricted investigations into journalists, reinstating authority for prosecutors to use subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants to pursue cases involving government officials leaking information to the media. While past administrations have accessed journalists’ communication records to trace sources, directly requiring reporters to testify before a federal grand jury remains relatively rare—making this case once again reignite public debate over the boundaries between press freedom and government power.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1870509498430476/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.