Justice Department Subpoenas New York Times Reporters Over Air Force One Leak

Overview

• Federal prosecutors in Manhattan issued grand-jury subpoenas on Friday that require several New York Times journalists to testify on Wednesday about reporting on the new Air Force One.
• The subpoenas were signed by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton and, according to the Times, were in some cases delivered to reporters’ homes by federal agents.
• The Department of Justice told Reuters it would neither confirm nor deny the subpoenas and said the investigation targets people who leak classified information, not journalists themselves.
• The original Times report said the Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8 lacked some defensive systems used on the prior presidential plane, including anti-missile protections, a claim the White House has denied.
• The subpoenas have drawn sharp criticism from Times lawyers and press‑freedom groups who say the step could chill reporting, and Clayton’s role has prompted calls for senators to scrutinize him during his pending confirmation.