Overview
- Federal prosecutors in Manhattan told a judge on Thursday that they would withdraw subpoenas that required several New York Times reporters to testify and hand over phone records.
- Justice Department lawyers acknowledged procedural errors, including requests for phone data tied to reporters' family members, and the judge said such subpoenas should be a last resort.
- The Times had published reports, citing anonymous security sources, that the Qatar‑donated Boeing 747‑8 lacked some protective systems and that the Secret Service advised against using it for the return flight from the NATO summit.
- The DOJ said the underlying leak investigation into possible unlawful disclosures remains active and vowed to pursue those responsible, while the White House denied security alone drove the plane switch and President Trump announced unspecified retrofits.
- Press groups and media lawyers said the episode fits a pattern of aggressive DOJ tactics toward reporters and warned the approach could chill anonymous sourcing and investigative journalism.