The Trump administration on Friday subpoenaed several journalists for The New York Times after the outlet reported on security and legal concerns around the new Air Force One donated by the Qatari government, the paper reported.
Subpoenas Seek Testimony Before Grand Jury
According to the news outlet, the subpoenas seek to compel the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday, marking an extraordinary step in President Donald Trump’s efforts to threaten press freedom and intimidate news organizations.
The Times reported that, in some cases, federal agents showed up at reporters’ homes to deliver subpoenas. The outlet broadly condemned the administration’s move.
“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,” said David McCraw, a lawyer for the newsroom, in a statement on Friday evening.
Timing Linked to Leak Investigation
The timing of the subpoenas could suggest that the Trump administration is seeking to identify the source of a leak to the Times, after the news outlet reported on Wednesday that Trump left the NATO summit in Turkey on the old Air Force One due to Secret Service security concerns.
According to CNN, the four journalists who wrote that story — Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt — were subpoenaed.
FBI Director Involved
The subpoenas also come after FBI Director Kash Patel was headed to Chicago to meet his girlfriend but canceled his flight after being abruptly called to the White House to meet with officials, according to a report. The summoning was apparently to discuss the agency’s investigation into disclosures about security concerns with the new jet, CNN reported.
CNN reported that the president has been frustrated by reports of security issues with the $400 million Qatari-gifted plane and fumed in recent days when it became public that the aircraft lacked equipment to fly directly from Turkey back home.
