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The US Justice Department announced on Thursday that it will withdraw subpoenas issued to four New York Times reporters earlier this month. The subpoenas sought to compel testimony and obtain phone and text records related to the journalists' reporting on security concerns about the new Air Force One jet donated by Qatar. The announcement was made during a hearing in Manhattan federal court, where Judge Arun Subramanian was considering the newspaper's motion to quash the subpoenas. Sean Buckley, chief counsel to US Attorney Jay Clayton, stated that the government was prepared to unilaterally withdraw the subpoenas at that time. The subpoenas, issued on July 10, targeted reporters Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt, and also sought records of some family members. The Trump administration had been pushing to identify confidential government sources who spoke about the jet's security capabilities, drawing criticism as an attempt to chill press freedom. The New York Times argued in court filings that the subpoenas were issued in bad faith to harass and retaliate against the press for reporting on subjects embarrassing to the President. Prosecutors had initially requested a two-week pause to pursue additional investigative steps, but ultimately decided to withdraw the subpoenas. The Justice Department previously stated that the reporters were not targets, but rather those leaking classified information. The case highlights ongoing tensions between press freedom and national security investigations.
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