DOJ Backtracks Withdraws Subpoenas Against Trump Traitors

The Justice Department said Thursday it will withdraw subpoenas issued to New York Times journalists over their reporting on President Trump’s use of a Boeing 747-8 aircraft gifted by Qatar, reversing course during a federal court hearing.

The decision comes just ahead of the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where Trump is expected to deliver remarks.

During Thursday’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian questioned the government’s handling of the subpoenas after attorneys representing the newspaper argued they threatened press freedom and could discourage investigative reporting.

A Justice Department spokesperson later said the judge warned government attorneys of possible sanctions unless the subpoenas were withdrawn and prevented them from presenting what the department described as the investigative process behind the case.

Despite withdrawing the subpoenas, the Justice Department said its investigation into the alleged leak of classified information remains active. The department maintained that it intends to continue pursuing individuals responsible for unauthorized disclosures that it believes could threaten national security.

Earlier this month, federal agents delivered subpoenas to the homes of New York Times reporters, seeking grand jury testimony related to articles examining the security upgrades being made to the Qatari-gifted aircraft intended for presidential use. The reports cited sources familiar with the retrofitting process and the president’s travel plans.

The newspaper quickly moved to block the subpoenas, arguing they represented an attempt to intimidate journalists and force them to reveal confidential sources. Attorneys for the Times also contended that the government failed to meet the legal standard required to compel reporters to testify or disclose protected information.

Before Thursday’s hearing, the Justice Department had asked the court to temporarily pause enforcement of the subpoenas while requesting that the newspaper preserve relevant records. At the time, prosecutors said they would not seek testimony or documents during that period as the broader investigation continued.

Government attorneys argued that the reporting raised significant national security concerns because it appeared to rely on information that may have been classified or related to national defense. They also told the court they were continuing to pursue additional investigative leads that could affect both the scope of the subpoenas and the legal arguments surrounding reporter protections.

The New York Times countered that investigators should have exhausted other avenues before sending federal agents to journalists’ homes, arguing that the government’s actions threatened long-standing protections for members of the press.