world-economy

Times Challenges White House Legal Campaign Against Reporters

The New York Times will argue in federal court Thursday that the White House is weaponizing the justice system to identify its sources and suppress aggressive reporting on President Trump, the newspaper said.

The legal action centers on Times coverage of security concerns surrounding the new Air Force One, which was gifted by Qatar's government. The reporting angered President Trump.

Times lawyers argue the government's tactics violate First Amendment protections for newsgathering. FBI agents delivered subpoenas to several Times reporters at their homes July 10, two days after publication, requiring grand jury testimony.

The approach breaks with recent practice under prior administrations, including Trump's, where subpoenas were typically delivered to news organizations' legal teams first, allowing them to challenge the demands in court.