DOJ subpoenas phone records of 3 NYT reporters' relatives in leak probe

The Justice Department subpoenaed phone records belonging to three New York Times journalists' spouses and a parent, escalating a leak investigation that press freedom groups call an unprecedented intrusion into reporter-source relationships.

"This is a deeply concerning escalation that fits an alarming pattern of conduct targeting independent reporting on the administration," the Times said in a letter to a New York judge last week.

The DOJ sought records from third-party communications companies covering calls and text messages involving two reporters' spouses and one reporter's mother, the Times reported Monday. The subpoenas supplement earlier ones compelling the journalists to testify before a grand jury about their reporting on security flaws in the Qatari-gifted jet used as Air Force One. Lawyers for the Times journalists filed a motion Saturday to quash the new subpoenas.

The move threatens to chill press freedom by expanding the government's reach beyond journalists to their families, potentially deterring sources from speaking with reporters if they know relatives' communications could be swept into a federal investigation. The Times has separately been fighting a defamation lawsuit from President Donald Trump related to its coverage of his most recent campaign.

DOJ Defends Subpoenas as Leak Investigation

The department said Monday that "any subpoena issued by the Department of Justice is done so in full compliance with federal law and internal Department policy." In a statement last week, the DOJ insisted "reporters are not the targets, those leaking classified information are."

"We recognize there may always be natural tension there, but we are not going to ignore the law and stop investigating the people who work in the administration and think it's OK to leak classified information impacting national security," a spokesperson said.

The underlying reporting centered on Trump's decision to abandon the Qatari-government-gifted Boeing 747 in Europe earlier this month because it lacked certain security and communications capabilities. The Air Force has spent roughly $400 million renovating the plane, including cabin layout changes, communications system upgrades, and security enhancements. The jet — one of the largest presidential gifts ever — is scheduled to move to Trump's presidential library foundation in 2029.

Press Freedom Groups Sound Alarm

The subpoenas targeting family members mark a significant departure from standard DOJ practice in leak investigations. Previous administrations have sought journalists' records directly but rarely extended those requests to relatives. The Times' legal challenge argues the subpoenas violate the First Amendment and the Privacy Protection Act, which limits government access to journalists' work product and communications.

Trump has repeatedly attacked the Times during his two terms, often calling out reporters by name and describing the company as "failing" and "fake." The escalating legal confrontation between the administration and the nation's largest newsroom raises questions about the boundaries of executive power in investigating leaks — and whether extending subpoenas to journalists' families crosses a constitutional line.

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