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DOJ withdraws demands for NYT reporters' phone records after judge's criticism
Key points
- DOJ withdrew subpoenas for NYT reporters' phone records and testimony.
- US District Judge Arun Subramanian criticized the DOJ's handling of subpoenas.
- Subpoenas were related to an article on Air Force One security concerns.
- The judge stated subpoenas to reporters are a last resort.
DOJ Withdraws Subpoenas
The Department of Justice has withdrawn its demands for phone records and grand jury testimony from New York Times reporters. This decision came after a federal judge, US District Judge Arun Subramanian, questioned the DOJ's approach to issuing these subpoenas.
Judicial Scrutiny
During a hearing, Judge Subramanian reportedly grilled Justice Department lawyers for nearly an hour regarding their handling of the subpoenas. He emphasized that subpoenas to reporters should be a measure of last resort, stating, "they are not the first thing you do—they are the last thing you do."
Background of the Demands
The subpoenas were issued in connection with an article written by New York Times reporters concerning security concerns related to an Air Force One jet. The NYT reported that the government sought phone and text message records of the journalists and their relatives, in addition to demanding grand jury testimony.
NYT's Response
The New York Times had filed a motion to quash the subpoenas, describing the demands as "a brazen effort to intimidate the press." The motion also noted that federal agents served the subpoenas at the journalists' homes, ordering them to appear before a grand jury within three business days.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
The Department of Justice withdrew its demands for phone records and grand jury testimony from New York Times reporters following criticism from a federal judge. The judge stated that subpoenas to reporters should be a last resort, not a first action, leading to the withdrawal of the subpoenas.