The Trump administration dropped subpoenas targeting four journalists after news organizations resisted pressure to have them testify before a federal grand jury investigating national security leaks, according to an official familiar with the matter.
Three reporters from The Wall Street Journal and one from The Washington Post faced subpoenas issued in the Eastern District of Virginia. The compulsory orders demanded not merely information disclosure but mandatory in-person testimony under threat of contempt charges that could have resulted in imprisonment.
The Washington Post revealed the action on Tuesday morning. The Wall Street Journal had previously reported on the subpoenas but did not disclose the testimony requirement until the Post's disclosure made the full scope public.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department's approach in remarks to reporters, saying the administration does not view journalists as targets. "We're not going to stop investigating people who work in this administration who think it's okay to leak classified information," Blanche said, emphasizing that previous attorneys general had made similar statements.
The Washington Post responded swiftly. A spokesperson said the news organization would "stand fully behind" its journalism and oppose any efforts to undermine First Amendment protections. Ellen Nakashima, the reporter targeted by the subpoena, has produced significant reporting on intelligence operations, Iran policy, and other sensitive matters.
Executive Editor Matt Murray reinforced the paper's commitment in an email to staff, citing the organization's core mission "to question, investigate, uncover and report." He praised the legal team for working "aggressively" to resolve the matter.
The episode represents a rare moment of direct confrontation between the administration and major news organizations over press freedom. The Justice Department's willingness to abandon the subpoenas after pushback signals that the legal and political terrain around press rights remained contentious enough to deter outright enforcement.
The Wall Street Journal did not comment on the matter.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Backing down on journalist subpoenas is smart politics, but the fact that the administration even tried sends a troubling signal about where press freedom stands in this second Trump term."
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