The New York Times filed a motion on Wednesday to quash subpoenas from the US Justice Department targeting its journalists over coverage of security issues with the new Air Force One jet provided by Qatar, according to an Associated Press account. The action is likely to trigger a significant court battle regarding reporters’ ability to shield anonymous sources.
The sealed filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York contests orders that would require journalists to testify before a federal grand jury. The subpoenas were reportedly served at the reporters’ residences the previous Friday.
David McCraw, the newspaper’s senior vice president and deputy general counsel, stated that the Justice Department was attempting to penalize the publication for its reporting. He maintained that the subpoenas breach constitutional safeguards for the paper and its staff, and pledged to contest the matter to uphold press freedoms and public-interest journalism.
The probe focuses on a story citing unnamed sources who said the US Secret Service had warned President Donald Trump against using the refurbished aircraft due to missing advanced security features, such as anti-missile systems.
Although the plane entered service following a roughly $400 million upgrade, Trump used an older model for last week’s NATO summit in Turkey. He later rejected claims that security worries affected the choice.
The subpoenas mark an escalation in the administration’s drive to identify officials suspected of leaking classified data, following an earlier FBI search of a Washington Post reporter’s home in a separate case.
The Justice Department has stated that journalists are not targets of the inquiry. It emphasized its respect for the press while stressing the need to safeguard classified national security information from unauthorized release.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told a Senate hearing that reporters are viewed as material witnesses. He indicated that questions would focus on the origin of the classified information rather than on forcing disclosure of sources.
