Trump DoJ subpoenas New York Times journalists over story questioning safety of new Air Force One gifted by Qatar
Federal agents served subpoenas at the homes of reporters, demanding grand-jury testimony about an article that said Secret Service advised against full use of the new aircraft.
Four reporters from the New York Times have been ordered to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan, the newspaper disclosed on Friday. The subpoenas, issued by the US Attorney's office in Manhattan, are connected to a recent investigation by the Times into safety concerns surrounding the new presidential aircraft, a gift from Qatar to President Donald Trump.
The subpoenas and the reaction
The subpoenas were served on Friday, with federal agents appearing at the homes of some journalists to deliver the orders. The move triggered immediate condemnation from the newspaper, which labelled the tactic an attempt to intimidate independent media. David McCraw, the Times' senior vice-president and deputy general counsel, issued a statement describing the action as shocking.
The sight of federal law enforcement agents showing up at journalists' homes should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the freedom of the press it protects.
The Justice Department told the BBC it is investigating illegal leaks of national security information. A spokesperson stated the department values the role of the press but has a duty to ensure people entrusted with the nation's secrets are held accountable. The National Press Club in Washington called for the immediate withdrawal of the subpoenas, stating the decision by federal prosecutors should worry every American as it threatens the constitutional right to an independent press.
The reporting under scrutiny
The disputed reporting centred on Trump's return journey from the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. Citing anonymous sources, the New York Times reported that the Secret Service advised the president not to use the new Air Force One for the entire trip. Instead, Trump flew from Turkey to RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom aboard the older aircraft. A subsequent article claimed the new plane does not yet possess all the advanced security and anti-missile defence systems installed on the older model.
The administration's response
Trump and the White House denied that security concerns prompted the aircraft swap. The president insisted the stop at the British airbase was made so American military personnel stationed there could view the new jet. When asked in Ankara about potential threats, Trump stated he is constantly targeted. White House spokesman Steven Cheung asserted the new Air Force One has state-of-the-art security protocols. The Justice Department maintained that the investigation targets the leakers of classified information, not the journalists themselves, though the subpoenas demand the reporters appear on Wednesday to answer questions regarding an alleged violation of federal criminal law.
I am threatened constantly. I am their number one target.
Escalation in media tensions
The legal action marks a sharp escalation in the long-running conflict between the Trump administration and the New York Times. The newspaper characterised the subpoenas as a dramatic escalation in efforts to threaten and intimidate independent news organisations. The summonses mention only an unspecified alleged violation of federal criminal law, without providing further details to the reporters.
