Federal Subpoenas Issued to New York Times Reporters Amid Air Force One Security Investigation

A number of New York Times reporters have been called to testify under oath following their coverage of alleged security issues with President Donald Trump’s new Air Force One aircraft, according to the newspaper.

Federal agents served subpoenas at the residences of several reporters, requiring them to appear before a federal grand jury probing a possible crime, the Times reported.

The outlet had reported that the Qatar‑gifted aircraft lacked sufficient security, prompting the Secret Service to advise Trump to use an older plane on his return from the NATO summit in Turkey.

The Justice Department informed the BBC that it is investigating unlawful leaks, stating: “Reporters are not the focus; those who disclose classified information are.”

David McCraw, the Times’s chief newsroom counsel, described the summons as a “brazen act” and “merely an effort to keep the public uninformed by intimidating journalists from performing their duties.”

The subpoenas — a legal directive issued by a court or government agency compelling appearance or production of records — state that the reporters’ testimony is needed “concerning an alleged breach of federal criminal law,” the Times noted.

The summons compel the reporters to appear before a Manhattan grand jury on Wednesday, according to the Times. Grand juries, made up of citizens and convened by the U.S. government, review evidence to determine whether there is sufficient cause to bring criminal charges.

The New York Times disclosed security concerns regarding the president’s aircraft based on unnamed sources. Although discussing classified information with the media can constitute a crime, the U.S. Constitution safeguards press freedom to publish information in the public interest.

“We value and appreciate the vital role the press serves in this nation, but the Justice Department also has a responsibility to ensure that those entrusted with our country’s secrets handle that information properly — namely, by not disclosing classified material,” the Justice Department said in a statement to the BBC.

The Times reported on Wednesday that although Trump traveled to the NATO summit in Turkey aboard the new Air Force One, he departed the summit on an older aircraft following Secret Service advice. The following day, the newspaper noted that security officials expressed concern that the newer plane lacked advanced protective features, such as antimissile systems.

“Our journalists report the facts and uphold the American public’s right to understand how their government functions and how taxpayer funds are utilized,” McCraw, the Times’s lawyer, stated.

Similar stories appeared in other outlets, such as CBS News, the BBC’s U.S. news partner. A former U.S. government official told CBS that there was insufficient time or funding to equip the plane with the necessary security upgrades for Air Force One duty.

As these reports emerged, tensions with Iran over a negotiated ceasefire agreement were escalating, and the United States was conducting military strikes.

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