Overview
- The Justice Department told a federal court on Thursday that it would withdraw grand‑jury subpoenas seeking New York Times reporters’ testimony and phone records after the paper moved to quash the orders.
- The subpoenas had sought extensive data, including reporters’ call records from third‑party providers and phone logs for spouses and a journalist’s mother, with some requests dating back to January 1.
- U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian pressed prosecutors over apparent procedural errors during a hearing and questioned whether sanctions were warranted for the government’s filings.
- The Justice Department said the underlying investigation into leaks about security shortcomings on the Qatar‑donated Air Force One remains active and could resume if prosecutors correct defects in their procedures.
- The Times and press‑rights groups called the subpoenas abusive and intimidating, saying the episode raises core questions about source protection, journalists’ privacy, and how courts will balance leak prosecutions with newsgathering rights.