US Attorney General Pam Bondi will subpoena journalists in leak investigations, according to a memo obtained by Axios.
Bondi is rescinding a Biden-era policy restricting the use of subpoenas to obtain information from members of the press.
In 2021, the Biden Justice Department, led by then-US Attorney General Merrick Garland, adopted a policy restricting the use of subpoenas to obtain reporter information:
The U.S. Department of Justice today formally adopted a new policy that restricts the use of compulsory process to obtain information from, or records of, members of the news media acting within the scope of newsgathering activities. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the new policy, effective immediately, in a memo to Department leadership.
The Attorney General also reiterated his support for the durability of these policy changes. To further protect members of the news media in a manner that will be enduring, he asked the Deputy Attorney General to undertake a review process to further explain, develop, and codify the policy announced today into Department regulations. He also reaffirmed the Department’s support for congressional legislation to protect members of the news media.
Pam Bondi said it is necessary to rescind former AG Merrick Garland’s policies restricting the DOJ from compelling testimony or seeking records from journalists to identify leakers.
Axios reported:
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an internal memo obtained by Axios that the Justice Department is rescinding her predecessor Merrick Garland’s policy restricting most subpoenas for journalists.
Why it matters: It is a sign that Bondi will continue the first Trump administration’s practice of trying to obtain reporters’ newsgathering materials in an effort to smoke out leakers.
“I have concluded that it is necessary to rescind Merrick Garland’s policies precluding the Department of Justice from seeking records and compelling testimony from members of the news media in order to identify and punish the source of improper leaks,” Bondi wrote.
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