The New York Times reports that the U.S. Justice Department has ordered several of its journalists to testify before a federal grand jury, following their reporting on security concerns regarding the new Air Force One aircraft donated by Qatar. The subpoenas escalate the administration's legal pressure on the press over the story.
The New York Times reported Saturday evening that the U.S. Justice Department has issued subpoenas to several of its journalists, ordering them to testify before a federal grand jury. The subpoenas, which the newspaper confirmed in its own reporting, stem from its coverage of security concerns regarding the new Air Force One aircraft donated by Qatar. The confirmation marks a significant escalation in the Trump administration's legal pressure on the paper.
The development follows a sequence of reports earlier Saturday. At 07:39 Jerusalem, The Zioneer first reported, citing ynet, that New York Times journalists had been summoned for a hearing over security flaw exposés on Trump's plane. Within hours, the newspaper's legal adviser, speaking to Israeli journalist Asaf Rozentzweig (N12), confirmed that federal agents had served subpoenas at the journalists' doorsteps, calling the move a "blatant attempt" to intimidate the press. By 15:25 Jerusalem, reports indicated the administration had officially issued the subpoenas, though the Times had not yet confirmed the details. Tonight's confirmation by the newspaper itself closes that gap.
The story is rooted in the controversy over the interim Air Force One, a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar. As The Zioneer reported on July 10, the Secret Service forced President Trump to switch from the aircraft after his visit to Turkey, determining that it lacked critical defense systems, including electronic warfare and heat-seeking missile countermeasures. The White House denied safety concerns, but security officials warned of risks given proximity to Turkey and Iran. The aircraft was formally inaugurated by Trump on July 1, following earlier reports of its operational readiness and its first foreign flight as Air Force One.
It remains unclear which specific journalists are named in the subpoenas, and the Times has not issued a formal statement beyond the legal adviser's condemnation. The timing of the grand jury testimony has not been disclosed.
5 developments
- StrongSecret Service forced Trump to switch from Qatari-donated Air Force One over missing defense systems
- DevelopingQatar-donated interim Air Force One painted in New York, timed to billion-dollar pledge
- DevelopingQatar's official state jet makes first foreign flight as 'Air Force 1' — report
- StrongTrump displays Qatar-gifted interim Air Force One in New York
Source and signal
- Internal intake