Trump’s Justice Department Lifts Protections for Journalists in Leak Probes

TL/DR –

The Trump administration’s Justice Department has removed protections for journalists in investigations into leaks, granting the government increased power to demand information. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the revocation of Biden-era policies that prevented the Justice Department from seeking records or compelling testimony from journalists in leak investigations. Bondi accused the Biden administration of abusing media protections, alleging that unauthorized disclosures undermined President Trump’s policies, victimized government agencies, and harmed Americans.

Trump’s Justice Department Revokes Journalist Protections in Leak Investigations

President Donald Trump‘s Justice Department has lifted protection of journalists in leak investigations, granting the government enhanced power to demand information.

Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed in a memo circulated Friday that she will rescind policies established by the Biden administration that limited the Justice Department from compelling testimony from journalists for leak investigations.

Bondi accused the Biden administration of abusing media protections set by Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden’s attorney general. Bondi’s claim rested on allegations that Biden’s Justice Department selectively leaked supportive of failed lawfare campaigns, according to a New York Times report.

The attorney general noted that the Justice Department will not accept unauthorized disclosures that undermine President Trump’s policies or cause harm to the American people. She further added that people responsible for these leaks aid foreign adversaries by disseminating sensitive, often classified, information on the internet.

This decision grants the Trump administration authority to use subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants in leak investigations. Bondi emphasized that the Justice Department would utilize “procedural protections,” reserving investigations as a “last resort.”

In the memo, Bondi mentioned a story about Dan Caldwell, an adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was put on leave allegedly for “an unauthorized disclosure.” She also complained about ongoing leaks of classified information.

In December, lawyers close to Trump told Rolling Stone about the administration’s scheme to intensify pressure on news media and whistleblowers. Trump’s war on the media escalated in February when the administration banned the Associated Press from attending Oval Office events. A week after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to give the Associated Press full access, a reporter and photographer were banned from the Oval Office.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press denounced the Justice Department’s decision to repeal the Biden-era policy. Bruce Brown, the group’s president, said in a statement, “Strong protections for journalists serve the American public by safeguarding the free flow of information.”

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