Judge forces DOJ to withdraw subpoenas against New York Times reporters

The U.S. Department of Justice withdrew subpoenas demanding grand jury testimony and phone records from three New York Times journalists after a federal judge sharply criticized the government's legal handling. The subpoenas, issued July 10, targeted reporters who wrote about security concerns regarding President Trump's Qatari-donated Air Force One jet. Judge Arun Subramanian threatened sanctions and stated that subpoenas 'are the last thing you do,' not the first Source: AP News.

What happened

The DOJ had sought to compel three reporters to testify about their sources and also obtained phone records of several journalists and their relatives, including one reporter's mother and two spouses Source: The Guardian. The Times called it 'a brazen effort to intimidate the press' Source: Ars Technica. During a heated hearing, Subramanian grilled prosecutors about 'inadvertent errors' and said the government's actions violated First Amendment protections Source: CNN.

The reaction

The Times' top newsroom lawyer David McCraw said, 'We are pleased that the government finally conceded that the subpoenas violated the law' Source: CNN. Reporters Without Borders called it a victory for journalists relying on confidential sources Source: DW. The DOJ's statement said the investigation remains ongoing and that 'reporters are not the targets' Source: NPR. The withdrawal marks the latest instance of the Trump administration facing court setbacks in its efforts to crack down on media leaks Source: Al Jazeera.