Trump subpoenas journalists over Qatari Air Force One reporting

The Trump administration has subpoenaed several New York Times journalists after their report on security concerns involving the new Air Force One, according to the paper.

The new jet, which President Donald Trump received as a gift from Qatar, entered service last week.

The subpoenas issued on Friday seek to force the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday. Federal agents delivered some subpoenas to the reporters at their homes.

There was no immediate response from the White House or Department of Justice to requests for comment on Saturday.

“The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects,” David McCraw, a lawyer for the Times, said in a statement.

Part of a pattern of anti-press actions

Issuing subpoenas represents a major escalation in the Republican president’s effort to threaten independent news organisations by leveraging the power of the federal government against them. It is also part of a systematic pattern by Trump to attempt to undermine press freedom to shield himself from negative coverage.