Tag

#New York Times

2 incidents

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

DOJ Subpoenas New York Times Reporters and Their Relatives' Phone Records Over Air Force One Reporting (July 2026)

The Justice Department tried to force New York Times reporters to testify to a grand jury about their sources for stories on security problems with Air Force One. It also subpoenaed phone records of the reporters' spouses and one reporter's mother. A federal judge rebuked the department, which withdrew the subpoenas and admitted errors. It was the latest attempt under rules rewritten in April 2025 that allow subpoenas to journalists, after earlier subpoenas to Wall Street Journal and Washington Post reporters were also dropped.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Pentagon Press Credential Policy Struck Down as Unconstitutional; Court Finds the Department Did Not Comply (2025–2026)

A federal court permanently struck down the Pentagon's 2025 press-access policy as vague and viewpoint-discriminatory, then found the department had not complied and had instead cut reporters' access further. An appeals court let the escort rule stand pending appeal because the first judgment had not addressed it; the district court then preliminarily enjoined it as likely retaliation.