The Trump administration sent subpoenas to multiple journalists at The New York Times after the newspaper reported on security concerns about the president’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One, marking the latest salvo in its effort to intimidate the media.
The subpoenas seek to compel the journalists to appear before a federal grand jury in New York City on Wednesday, according to the Times. Some reporters received the documents from federal agents who turned up at their homes.
Issued by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, the documents are sparse on specifics, stating that testimony is sought “in regard to an alleged violation of federal criminal law.”
The newspaper swiftly condemned the administration’s actions. Times attorney David McCraw said: “The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects.”
“This brazen act should be seen as nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs,” he added.
Since his return to office, Trump and his administration have moved aggressively against the press, filing lawsuits against multiple outlets and limiting White House access for others. Trump has also branded reporters he clashes with as “treasonous” and said one journalist could “go to jail” over reporting on the Iran war. For years, the Republican president has referred to the media as “the enemy of the people.”
Among the Times reporters who received subpoenas are Julian Barnes, Tyler Pager, Eric Schmitt and Eric Lipton. The four of them reported on Wednesday — citing anonymous sources — that the president left the NATO summit in Turkey aboard the old Air Force One as a precautionary measure at the direction of the Secret Service.
The new Air Force One, a Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar, lacks “some of the advanced security features of the older aircraft, including antimissile capabilities,” according to the outlet.
The 80-year-old president said on Wednesday he would be flying the older aircraft out of Turkey “for old times’s sake.” He later denied that security concerns factored into the decision.
Before the Times published the article, an FBI official contacted the outlet and asked that it be held, citing national security concerns.
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