Several New York Times reporters have been subpoenaed by the Justice Department to give grand jury testimony over their reporting on alleged security issues with a new Air Force One plane gifted by Qatar.
Key facts
- The Trump administration issued subpoenas to several New York Times journalists, according to the paper.
- The subpoenas followed reporting on alleged security concerns involving the new Air Force One.
- The plane was gifted to President Trump by Qatar.
- The Times says federal agents appeared at reporters' doorsteps to compel grand jury testimony next week.
- Press freedom advocates and members of Congress condemned the move as an attempt to intimidate.
The Trump administration has issued subpoenas to several New York Times reporters over their coverage of a new Air Force One plane, according to the newspaper. The legal summonses came after the reporters covered alleged security concerns involving the aircraft, which was gifted to President Trump by Qatar.
According to NPR, the Times said federal agents turned up on the doorsteps of several of its journalists to force grand jury testimony next week. The action ties the subpoenas directly to the paper’s reporting on the plane.
The BBC reported that the reporters received the legal summonses after they published coverage of alleged security issues with the president’s new plane. Multiple outlets, including CNBC, attributed the news to the Times itself.
The reporting at the center of the dispute concerned security concerns involving the new Air Force One, according to CNBC. The aircraft’s origin as a gift from Qatar has featured prominently in coverage of the story.
Press freedom advocates and members of Congress condemned the subpoenas, according to Al Jazeera, describing them as an attempt to ‘threaten and intimidate’ journalists.
The subpoenas would require the journalists to appear before a grand jury next week, according to the account relayed by NPR. Details beyond those reported by the outlets involved were not available.
Why it matters
Subpoenas compelling reporters to testify before a grand jury raise significant press freedom concerns, as critics argue such actions can intimidate journalists and discourage reporting on government affairs. The case also touches on scrutiny of a foreign government's gift of an aircraft to a sitting U.S. president.
Frequently asked questions
Why were the New York Times reporters subpoenaed?
According to the paper and multiple outlets, the subpoenas followed the reporters' coverage of alleged security concerns involving a new Air Force One plane gifted to President Trump by Qatar.
What are the reporters being asked to do?
The Times says federal agents appeared at reporters' doorsteps to force grand jury testimony next week, according to NPR.
How have others reacted?
Press freedom advocates and members of Congress condemned the subpoenas as an attempt to 'threaten and intimidate,' according to Al Jazeera.