The Trump administration has issued subpoenas to several New York Times journalists following the newspaper's reporting on security concerns related to the new Air Force One aircraft. The subpoenas command the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday.
Federal agents reportedly delivered some of the subpoenas to the journalists' homes. The New York Times reported that the subpoenas were issued Friday, shortly after the administration received the paper's report detailing security issues with the new jet. The White House and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
David McCraw, the paper's lawyer, stated that the appearance of federal law enforcement agents at the doorsteps of news reporters should be a cause for alarm for any American who values the Constitution and the press freedom it upholds.
The report in question emerged after President Donald Trump flew to a NATO summit in Turkey. He initially departed for a trip to Mildenhall, a Royal Air Force base in Suffolk, England, on one of the older Air Force One jets. Both aircraft then flew to Mildenhall, where Trump switched to the newer plane for the return flight to Joint Base Andrews.
This aircraft change occurred amid a fragile cease-fire with Iran, which had recently collapsed, leading to U.S. airstrikes and Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab states. The proximity of Iran and Turkey fueled speculation that the new Air Force One, which underwent a $400 million retrofit, might lack advanced security and countermeasure systems. The New York Times cited anonymous sources in its reporting, stating that the switch to the older plane was at the urging of the Secret Service and that the newer aircraft was missing certain advanced security features, such as antimissile capabilities.
President Trump has previously denied any security concerns, suggesting on social media that the stop in Mildenhall was intended to allow service members to view the new jet. He also told reporters accompanying him that security concerns involving Iran were not a factor in flying two planes home. When asked about credible threats from Iran against Air Force One, Trump dismissed the question, stating, "I have a threat all the time. I’m No. 1 on their list."
White House spokesman Steven Cheung issued a statement asserting that the new Air Force One is a state-of-the-art aircraft equipped with high-level security protocols. He added that the administration utilizes all available tools, including distraction and misdirection, to address threats against the president.
The New York Times journalists who received subpoenas include Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt. Earlier this year, the Justice Department issued subpoenas to reporters from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, but later withdrew them in both instances.