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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

US Justice Department subpoenas New York Times reporters over Air Force One security stories

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • The U.S. Department of Justice has subpoenaed journalists from The New York Times over their reporting on President Trump's new Air Force One.
  • The reports questioned security measures on the aircraft, citing anonymous sources concerned about its lack of features like antimissile defense.
  • Journalism advocacy groups have criticized the subpoenas as an attack on press freedom and First Amendment rights.

The U.S. Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to journalists at The New York Times, escalating a conflict over their reporting that questioned the security features of President Donald Trump's new Air Force One. The newspaper described the move, which compels the journalists to testify before a federal grand jury, as an "extraordinary escalation" in the president's efforts to "threaten and intimidate independent news organizations."

an extraordinary escalation in President Trump's efforts to threaten and intimidate independent news organizations.

— The New York TimesThe newspaper described the Department of Justice's move to subpoena its journalists.

The New York Times' stories were prompted by observations of Trump's travel arrangements, including his use of older Air Force One jets for departures from Turkey and subsequent flights on the new aircraft back to the U.S. The reports cited anonymous sources within the Secret Service who allegedly raised security concerns, particularly regarding the new plane's perceived lack of advanced defenses, such as antimissile systems, amid regional tensions with Iran.

When federal agents arrive at the homes of journalists with subpoenas, it is not ordinary law enforcement. It is an extraordinary assault on the freedom of the press that strikes at the heart of the First Amendment.

— National Press ClubThe organization criticized the subpoenas as a threat to press freedom.

President Trump has denied that security concerns influenced his aircraft choices, stating he faces threats "all the time" and is "No. 1 on their list." However, the Department of Justice's decision to subpoena reporters has drawn widespread criticism from press freedom advocates. The National Press Club urged the department to "immediately" withdraw the subpoenas, calling the action an "extraordinary assault on the freedom of the press."

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.

— David McCrawA lawyer for The New York Times commented on the subpoenas.

David McCraw, a lawyer for The New York Times, echoed these sentiments, stating that federal agents appearing at reporters' homes with subpoenas should "shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects." This action follows a pattern of the Trump administration taking aggressive steps against critical media, including previous subpoena attempts against reporters from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, which were later withdrawn.

I have a threat all the time. I'm No. 1 on their list.

— Donald TrumpPresident Trump responded when asked by reporters about threats to Air Force One.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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