U.S. to Withdraw Subpoenas Issued to New York Times Journalists
A federal judge raised questions about the government’s handling of the subpoenas, which The Times said were an attempt to intimidate the free press.
The Justice Department said on Thursday that it would withdraw the subpoenas that sought phone records and grand jury testimony from New York Times journalists who had reported on the security capabilities of President Trump’s new Qatari-built Air Force One jet.
“The government is prepared to unilaterally withdraw the subpoenas at this time,” Sean Buckley, one of the highest-ranking officials in the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, said at a hearing in U.S. District Court.
The government’s move came after Judge Arun Subramanian grilled Justice Department lawyers for nearly an hour over their handling of the subpoenas, which The Times had sought to quash. The newspaper called the subpoenas an effort to intimidate its reporters.
Judge Subramanian said the Justice Department was not prevented from subpoenaing the Times reporters again if the government followed appropriate procedures.
The case had emerged as a flashpoint in the Trump administration’s efforts to escalate pressure on independent news organizations.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
writes about the intersection of media, politics and culture. He has been a media correspondent at The Times since 2016.
covers criminal justice in the New York region for The Times. He is focused on political influence and its effect on the rule of law in the area's federal and state courts.