The New York Times has disclosed that several of its journalists were served with subpoenas requiring them to provide sworn testimony regarding their coverage of security issues surrounding President Donald Trump’s new Air Force One aircraft. Federal agents delivered the legal orders to the reporters’ residences, compelling them to testify before a grand jury investigating potential criminal activity.
The newspaper previously reported that the Secret Service had advised the president to avoid using the aircraft—a jet gifted to the U.S. by Qatar—during a return trip from a NATO summit in Turkey due to insufficient security features, such as a lack of antimissile systems. The Department of Justice stated it is conducting a probe into the unauthorized disclosure of classified national security details.
David McCraw, lead counsel for the Times, condemned the move as an intimidation tactic designed to suppress government transparency. Conversely, the Justice Department maintained that while it respects the press, it must ensure that individuals with access to sensitive information do not leak it.
President Trump dismissed the concerns regarding the plane’s safety during a recent press interaction. The Boeing 747-8, estimated to be worth $400 million, was provided as a donation, and the Air Force has asserted that any security risks associated with the jet’s history have been fully addressed.
