Overview
- The New York Times filed a federal court motion on Thursday, July 16, 2026, seeking to quash subpoenas that would force several of its reporters to testify before a Manhattan grand jury.
- The subpoenas were issued after the reporters published stories alleging security concerns with the new Air Force One, which the coverage said was gifted to President Donald Trump by Qatar.
- Each subpoena cited only an unspecified alleged violation of federal criminal law, and some were reportedly delivered in person to reporters’ homes.
- David McCraw, the Times’s lawyer, called the subpoenas abusive and unlawful and said they were obtained in bad faith to punish the paper for its reporting.
- Compelled grand-jury testimony from journalists is rare and the court fight could shape how far prosecutors can reach into newsgathering and whether newsrooms can shield reporters from forced testimony.