Day 537

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

In July 2026 the Justice Department served grand jury subpoenas on New York Times journalists who had reported on security concerns about the Qatari-gifted Air Force One. Federal agents delivered some of the subpoenas at reporters' homes. The department also sought phone records of journalists and of relatives, including one reporter's mother and two reporters' spouses, going back to January 1, 2026. The Times moved to quash, calling the subpoenas a bad-faith effort 'to punish The Times for its coverage.' On July 24, after U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian criticized the department's legal work, the government withdrew the subpoenas, acknowledging 'errors' and 'mistakes,' and said it would return to court if new subpoenas were needed.

DOJ subpoenas New York Times reporters and relatives' phone records

DOJ serves grand jury subpoenas on Times reporters over Air Force One reporting, some delivered at their homes, and subpoenas phone records of a reporter's mother and two reporters' spouses. The subpoenas are withdrawn July 24 after a federal judge's rebuke (see doj-subpoenas-nyt-reporters-air-force-one).

From: Systematic Attacks on Press Freedom: Journalist Arrests, Detention, and Deportation