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Acting US Attorney General Defends Subpoenas to Reporters
Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche defended issuing subpoenas to reporters in leaks investigations. The comments followed The Wall Street Journal reporting subpoenas for its reporters' records, and they come after a DOJ policy change and a January FBI raid on a Washington Post reporter. The timeline reflects ongoing tensions between national security leaks prosecutions and press protections.
Why It Matters
The disclosures highlight tensions between national security and press freedom, with potential implications for how journalists’ sources and newsgathering are treated in leak investigations.
Timeline
4 Events
Acting US Attorney General defends subpoenas to reporters
May 12, 2026
Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche defended issuing subpoenas to journalists as part of investigations into leaks of classified information. In a post on X, he said witnesses including reporters should not be surprised if they receive a subpoena about illegal leaking. He did not name any publication in his remarks.
Wall Street Journal reports subpoenas for reporters' records
May 11, 2026
The Wall Street Journal reported that it had received grand jury subpoenas for records of its reporters. The Journal quoted Ashok Sinha of Dow Jones calling the subpoenas an attack on constitutionally protected newsgathering and noted that former President Trump provided Blanche with articles and a note about treason.
FBI raids Washington Post reporter's home in leak probe
January 2026
In January 2026, FBI agents, as part of a classified leak probe, raided the home of a Washington Post reporter and seized her electronic devices. The Committee to Protect Journalists described the move as highly unusual.
DOJ rescinds Biden-era policy protecting journalists
2025
The Department of Justice last year rescinded a Biden-era policy aimed at protecting journalists from being forced to reveal their sources and strictly limiting the use of subpoenas.