Justice Department Drops Subpoenas for Journalists but Says It Will Keep Investigating Classified Leaks

The Justice Department dropped grand jury subpoenas that would have required four journalists to testify in a national security leaks investigation. Three of the journalists work for The Wall Street Journal and one for The Washington Post. The subpoenas had been issued in the Eastern District of Virginia.

The administration attempted to compel the testimony in recent weeks but withdrew the demands after the news organizations pushed back. The subpoenas stood out because they required the journalists to appear before the grand jury under threat of contempt findings, rather than only seeking documents. The Washington Post disclosed the subpoenas in an article published Tuesday morning.

The Wall Street Journal had reported on the subpoenas earlier but did not disclose the requirement for live testimony. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the matter during a Tuesday meeting with Justice Department reporters. “I think attorneys generals before me have said in these cases reporters are not our targets,” Blanche said.

He added that the administration would continue investigating leaks of classified information from within its ranks. A Washington Post spokesperson said the paper would “stand fully behind” its journalism and fight efforts by any administration to violate First Amendment rights.

” Executive Editor Matt Murray told staff in an email that questioning and investigating remained central to the paper’s work and thanked the legal team for its efforts on Nakashima’s behalf.

The Wall Street Journal did not immediately respond to a request for comment.