New York Times Reporters Subpoenaed Over Air Force One Security Report
The Trump administration has issued subpoenas to several New York Times reporters as part of a federal investigation into the leak of information concerning security measures aboard the new Air Force One, according to court documents and the newspaper.
The subpoenas, issued by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, require reporters Julian Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt to testify before a federal grand jury investigating the unauthorized disclosure of potentially classified information. Federal agents reportedly delivered some of the subpoenas directly to the journalists’ homes.
The investigation centers on reports claiming President Trump switched from the newly refurbished $400 million Air Force One to the older presidential aircraft during his trip to Turkey because of concerns that the new jet lacked some defensive systems needed to protect against missile threats, particularly as tensions with Iran escalated.
The White House has rejected claims that the aircraft was inadequately equipped, insisting the plane meets presidential security requirements. Officials have instead said the switch was part of a deliberate strategy of “distraction and misdirection” intended to complicate any potential threats against the president.
Justice Department officials said the reporters themselves are not targets of the criminal investigation. Instead, prosecutors are seeking testimony to identify the source or sources responsible for leaking sensitive information related to presidential security.
The New York Times strongly condemned the subpoenas, calling them an attack on press freedom. The newspaper argued that compelling journalists to reveal confidential sources threatens the constitutional protections afforded to a free press and could discourage whistleblowers from coming forward in the future.
The subpoenas are the latest in a series of legal battles between the Trump administration and major news organizations over leaks involving national security and classified information. The investigation remains ongoing.