New York Times Takes Legal Route: Seeks to Quash Subpoenas for Journalists

The New York Times is taking legal action to defend its journalists against subpoenas issued by the U.S. Department of Justice. The newspaper has filed a motion to quash the orders, which compel its reporters to testify before a grand jury. These subpoenas stem from articles published by the Times detailing alleged security flaws in Donald Trump's new Air Force One aircraft. David McCraw, the top legal editor at The New York Times, stated that the subpoenas were issued "in bad faith and for the purpose of punishing The New York Times for its coverage." He asserted that these actions violate the constitutional rights of the newspaper and its journalists to report freely on the administration and provide the public with important stories. The subpoenas, issued by federal prosecutor Jay Clayton, reportedly contain few details but concern an alleged violation of federal criminal law. Press freedom advocates have condemned the subpoenas, viewing them as an attempt to intimidate the media. The New York Times has a contentious relationship with the Trump administration, marked by several lawsuits.

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As we lay out in our motion, these subpoenas were issued in bad faith and for the purpose of punishing The New York Times for its coverage. It violates the constitutional rights that The New York Times and other media have.