Government withdraws reporter subpoenas for NYT after admitting legal errors
2 hours ago
- The US government withdrew subpoenas for three New York Times reporters after a federal judge criticized its legal errors.
- The subpoenas aimed to compel testimony about sources for articles on Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet.
- The judge cited laws protecting journalists as a last resort, finding the government's actions violated First Amendment principles.
- The Justice Department defended the subpoenas, citing a national security leak investigation, and criticized the judge's conduct.
- The government’s errors included subpoenas for phone records of a reporter’s mother and spouses, which it admitted were mistakes.
- The Times argued the subpoenas were issued in bad faith without a serious prior investigation, seeking records from months before the articles.
- The judge highlighted the absurdity of a journalist being served a subpoena while watching a family movie, demanding no repeat of such scenarios.