The Trump administration has subpoenaed several New York Times journalists in connection with the newspaper's report on the security capabilities of the new Qatari-gifted Air Force One. The subpoenas, issued by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, order the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan.
The New York Times criticized the move, calling it an anti-free press action that should "shock the conscience." The subpoenas were issued days after the newspaper published a report questioning whether the new Boeing 747-8 aircraft, which features extensive interior renovations, had been sufficiently retrofitted with security measures.
The report cited concerns from lawmakers about the plane's readiness for advanced security features, such as missile defense systems. It also indicated that the Secret Service had pushed for the aircraft swap.
President Trump was on his first international trip as Air Force One aboard the new aircraft during a visit to Ankara, Turkey. He later announced he was flying home on an older model to allow U.S. troops in Europe to see the new plane. He flew back on one of the older modified Boeing 747s before rejoining the new aircraft at Mildenhall Royal Air Force base in the U.K. for the final leg of his journey home. During the same summit, Trump stated he was "No. 1 on Iran's 'kill list.'"
The administration, without directly refuting the security concerns, stated that it had relied on "distraction and misdirection" to manage threats. The U.S. Air Force had estimated the cost of the aircraft's retrofit at $400 million.
This action is among several instances where the administration has sought to compel reporters to disclose information about leaks. In January, the FBI searched the home of a Washington Post reporter as part of an investigation into a government contractor. Earlier this year, the Justice Department issued subpoenas to reporters from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal as part of another probe, but later withdrew them in June after the news organizations contested the move.