The New York Times fights subpoenas from the administration following a leak investigation into the security of the new Air Force One.
The New York Times is seeking to quash subpoenas issued by the Justice Department after the administration launched an investigation into leaks regarding the security of the new Qatari-gifted presidential aircraft. The investigation, orchestrated by Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and FBI Director Kash Patel, aimed to identify who disclosed that the new plane lacked some of the defensive capabilities of the older vessel. The administration announced that the new jet was hurried into service, leading the Secret Service to advise President Trump to use the older plane for his recent trip to a NATO summit in Turkey. While President Trump initially downplayed security concerns, the White House confirmed the new plane will undergo a month of upgrades this fall. The New York Times argued that the subpoenas are "abusive and improper," suggesting the Justice Department is attempting to intimidate journalists and "chill" their ability to report. A federal judge has paused the enforcement of the subpoenas until a hearing is held to rule on the paper's motions.