Justice Dept. drops 'New York Times' subpoenas under pressure from judge
The U.S. Justice Department has withdrawn subpoenas targeting New York Times journalists after a federal judge threatened to quash them and sanction government attorneys. The judge criticized the government's attempt to access reporter records, citing First Amendment protections and poor legal conduct.
Why it matters
The case serves as a significant test of press freedom and the limits of executive authority regarding the surveillance of journalists.
The Justice Department is dropping the subpoenas it filed demanding grand jury testimony and phone records from New York Times journalists after sharp questioning Thursday from a federal judge who challenged almost every facet of the government's approach.
The government had insisted that it was acting solely in the interest of national security. It filed subpoenas on July 10, just two days after the Times published the first of two stories about concerns that led to the U.S. Secret Service interceding to prevent President Trump from flying home from Turkey on the new Air Force One jet.
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