DOJ subpoenas New York Times journalists over Air Force One report

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The Trump administration hit four New York Times journalists with subpoenas on Friday, after the outlet published a story outlining risks involving President Trump’s Qatar-gifted Air Force One plane that recently entered into service.

The Times reported that the refurbished jet lacked some of the advanced security measures of the older aircraft used to transport the president.

The reporters include Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt. They also wrote earlier this week that a security precaution forced Trump to depart to the NATO summit in Turkey on the old Air Force One, were called to testify next week before a federal grand jury in Manhattan “in regard to an alleged violation of federal criminal law.” The switch-up also raised red flags around potential threats against the president from Iran after the U.S. launched fresh strikes on the Islamic Republic earlier this week.

The outlet noted that before publication, a senior FBI official contacted it requesting to halt the article for national security reasons but declined to provide details. The subpoenas were reportedly delivered to the journalists at their homes by federal agents.

The Times condemned the move, calling it an act of intimidation and an attack on press freedom.

“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,” Times attorney David McCraw said in a statement.

“Our journalists report the facts and advance the American public’s right to know how their government is operating and their taxpayer dollars are being used,” he continued. “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.”

Press advocates also denounced the Justice Department’s (DOJ) actions, saying the move threatens constitutionally protected speech under the First Amendment.

“The Justice Department’s decision to subpoena journalists at The New York Times should alarm every American because it threatens the public’s constitutional right to an independent press,” the National Press Club said in a statement, requesting that DOJ withdraw the subpoenas.

The nonprofit organization Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) called the controversy around the Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-8 an “embarrassment” for the Trump administration.

“We’ve long said that when the government claims it needs to investigate journalists to protect national security, it really means its own reputational security,” FPF advocacy chief Seth Stern said in a statement.

“The administration’s embarrassment that it reportedly charged taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to retrofit a flying bribe that still isn’t secure enough for hostile times does not supersede the need for a free and independent press,” Stern added.

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Air Force One

David McCraw

DOJ

Donald Trump

Eric Lipton

eric schmitt

eric schmitt

Freedom of the Press Foundation

Julian E. Barnes

National Press Club

National security

Qatar-gifted jet

Subpoenas

The New York Times

Trump administration

Tyler Pager

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