Last week a New York Times reporter was served with a subpoena alleging
"violations of federal criminal law" two days after publishing a story that
contradicted Trump’s claim that Qatar offered to fund a new Air Force One. The
reporter suspects the subpoena was rushed in response to Trump’s anger at the
coverage. New York Times executive editor Joe Kahn called the subpoenas
"impulsive" in a staff memo and condemned the "blatant intimidation of
individual reporters," urging courts to reaffirm legal protections for
newsgathering. FBI Director Kash Patel was summoned to the White House on Friday
for a leak-investigation meeting shortly before the subpoena was served. First
Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams said he could not recall a precedent for a
president intervening so directly to compel reporters to disclose sources and
said the public has a strong, legitimate interest in knowing the truth in such
matters.
