Government Withdraws Subpoenas Against New York Times Reporters in Trump Jet Probe
The U.S. government withdrew subpoenas against three New York Times reporters, which had sought to compel testimony about their sources for articles concerning President Trump's gifted Air Force One jet. This action followed criticism from a federal judge in U.S.…
Philadelphia, PA, July 23, 2026 —
The U.S. government has withdrawn subpoenas that had been issued to three New York Times reporters. These subpoenas sought to compel the reporters to testify regarding their sources for articles published about President Trump’s gifted Air Force One jet.
The decision to withdraw the subpoenas comes after a federal judge in the U.S. District Court issued criticism regarding legal errors and procedural missteps in the government’s pursuit of the reporters’ testimony. The judge’s remarks highlighted that such subpoenas should be considered a measure of last resort.
The Justice Department had previously defended its issuance of the subpoenas, asserting that the reporters themselves were not the intended targets. Instead, the department stated its objective was to identify individuals leaking classified information. The specific classified information at issue pertains to articles detailing aspects of President Trump’s gifted Air Force One jet.
The withdrawal of these subpoenas marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to protect journalistic sources. The controversy underscored the tension between the government’s need to investigate leaks of classified information and the press’s role in reporting on matters of public interest.
Details regarding the specific legal errors or procedural issues cited by the judge were not fully elaborated upon in the available information. Similarly, the exact timeline of the articles and the subsequent subpoenas was not provided. The Justice Department’s justification for the subpoenas, focusing on leak investigations rather than reporter testimony, was a key point in their defense.
Story summarized from the original created by MICHAEL R. SISAK, ERIC TUCKER and LARRY NEUMEISTER on www.inquirer.com, see more information here.
