Subpoenas Issued to New York Times Reporters
The Trump administration has subpoenaed several New York Times journalists following their report on security concerns involving the new Air Force One, the newspaper said. The subpoenas, issued on Friday, compel the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday. Federal agents delivered some subpoenas to the reporters at their homes, according to the Times.
Background on the Report
The Times article, published last week, questioned the security features of the presidential jet gifted by Qatar. The new aircraft entered service recently after a $400 million retrofit. The report cited anonymous sources who said the Secret Service urged President Donald Trump to switch planes during a trip to Turkey for a NATO summit, due to concerns that the new jet lacked advanced countermeasures, including antimissile capabilities.
Trump flew the new Air Force One to the NATO summit but departed on an older model for Mildenhall, a Royal Air Force base in England. The newer plane also flew to Mildenhall, where Trump switched to it for the return flight to Joint Base Andrews. The switch occurred as a ceasefire with Iran collapsed, with the U.S. launching airstrikes and Tehran attacking three Gulf Arab states. Iran shares a border with Turkey, fueling speculation that the new jet lacked sophisticated security systems.
White House and DOJ Response
There was no immediate response from the White House or Department of Justice to requests for comment on Saturday. White House spokesman Steven Cheung denied any security shortcomings, stating, "The new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff." He added that the administration uses "distraction and misdirection" to address threats.
Trump himself denied security concerns, posting on social media that the stop in Mildenhall was for service members to view the new jet. During the flight, he told reporters, "I have a threat all the time. I’m No. 1 on their list," when asked about credible threats from Iran.
Press Freedom Concerns
David McCraw, a lawyer for the Times, said in a statement: "The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects." The journalists subpoenaed include Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department issued similar subpoenas to reporters at The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, but later withdrew them. The latest subpoenas have raised fresh concerns about press freedom under the Trump administration.
