New York Times seeks to block subpoenas to reporters over Air Force One reporting

New York Times seeks to block subpoenas to reporters over Air Force One reporting.

The New York Times refused to let its reporters testify in front of a federal grand jury after they were subpoenaed by the Trump administration over a story about security issues with an Air Force One plane donated by Qatar. The Times said it filed a motion under seal to quash the subpoenas, calling them "abusive and improper."

At a Senate hearing on July 15 to consider Clayton's nomination as director of national intelligence, he said the subpoenas issued to the Times' reporters were "in connection with an ongoing national security investigation." He declined to offer details, but defended the process while saying he was "absolutely committed to and respect our First Amendment and the role of the press."

The Justice Department has wide latitude to issue grand jury subpoenas, especially after Trump took office, according to former federal prosecutor Chris Mattei. "With the current administration, they withdrew policies restricting the DOJ's ability to subpoena journalists that were in place under the Biden administration," Mattei said.

The Times published a story last week about how the new Air Force One, which President Donald Trump flew to Turkey, doesn't have the same defensive countermeasures and safety features of the previous jet, including antimissile capabilities. Government subpoenas of journalists are highly unusual in the US, but the Trump administration has pursued multiple investigations over government leaks to news outlets and made unsuccessful attempts to subpoena journalists from the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal.