The Trump administration has subpoenaed four New York Times journalists who reported on security concerns surrounding the new Air Force One, a Qatari-gifted jet. The journalists – Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt – have been asked to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan.

Background

The subpoenas were issued after FBI Director Kash Patel met with White House officials to discuss the investigation into disclosures about security concerns with the new plane. President Trump has been fuming over the reports, which stated that the plane was not equipped to be flown directly from Turkey back to the US due to security concerns.

The New York Times has stated that it will fight the court order, calling it a direct threat to the news media’s ability to gather information in the public’s interest. The organization’s top newsroom attorney, David McCraw, condemned the subpoenas, saying that the appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects.

Reaction

Advocacy groups for journalists have called the subpoenas an attack on the public’s right to know about government operations. Stephen J. Adler, chairman of the Reporters’ Committee for Freedom of the Press, said that press freedom is about the rights of the public to learn how their community and country are being run and to make informed decisions based on independent reporting.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.