DOJ withdraws subpoenas to NY Times reporters in Trump plane probe

The Department of Justice officially withdrew its subpoenas targeting New York Times reporters this week. These subpoenas previously sought grand jury testimony and private phone records as part of a national security investigation into reports about President Donald Trump’s new Air Force One aircraft.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian presided over the hearing in Manhattan. He questioned why the government had not pursued other investigative paths before attempting to compel testimony from journalists. Under current legal precedents, the government must exhaust reasonable alternatives before issuing subpoenas to the press. Judge Subramanian warned that he would quash the requests entirely if the department did not withdraw them voluntarily.

Legal counsel for The New York Times described the outcome as a necessary protection of press freedom. The department had originally issued the subpoenas in July following reporting on security concerns regarding the Boeing 747-8 jet donated by Qatar. Prosecutors claimed the reporting involved the leak of sensitive, classified information.

While the current subpoenas are now withdrawn, the Department of Justice maintained that its broader investigation into the leak remains active. A department spokesperson stated that the judge’s intervention blocked the government from presenting evidence, but officials agreed to notify the court before issuing any future subpoenas related to these reporters.