Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and FBI Director Kash Patel are leading an investigation into a leak about security deficiencies in a new Air Force One plane gifted by Qatar. The probe has led to some White House officials being asked to turn over their phones to investigators.

Investigation Details

The investigation began after President Trump expressed frustration over disclosures about the new plane’s security concerns. At least one federal agency has warned its employees to contact their agency’s attorneys if they are contacted by outside agencies requesting information and devices.

Patel was diverted to the White House to take a hands-on role in the probe, which became public when the New York Times reported that the Justice Department had issued subpoenas to four of its journalists who reported on the security concerns. The effort reflects the Trump administration’s willingness to exert control over a law enforcement investigation, which has been criticized as a breach of the Justice Department’s historic independence.

Journalists and free press advocates have criticized the Justice Department’s move to subpoena the New York Times journalists as an affront to the First Amendment. The Times has said it plans to fight the subpoenas in court.

Security Concerns

The security concerns about the new plane came to light when Trump abruptly announced he was sending the plane ahead to England’s Mildenhall Air Force Base before he departed a NATO summit in Turkey. Trump downplayed the idea that security was the reason for the switch, but sources have told CNN that it was.

The Qatari plane had been quickly retrofitted with defense capabilities but was still not as secure as the older version, which had been built to protect presidents in overseas travel. The exact nature of the security differences between the old and new planes is not fully clear.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.