NYT Fights Back Against Subpoenas for Journalists' Phone Data

WHO:

CBS News - The New York Times, reporters, and their relatives, including the spouses of two reporters and one reporter's mother.

WHAT:

Alternet - The Justice Department is subpoenaing information from reporters' families to find the source of a leak related to the Air Force One scandal, including a demand for the phone of a reporter's mother.

Alternet - One subpoena demanded phone records dating back to Jan. 1, 2026.

Alternet - The New York Times stated that the Justice Department's actions amount to an "extraordinarily aggressive and unorthodox attempt" to uncover confidential sources of independent journalists.

CBS News - The New York Times moved to quash subpoenas that sought phone records of its journalists and their families.

Drudge Report - The USA sought phone records of New York Times journalists and their families.

WHERE:

CBS News - The New York Times, a major newspaper based in New York City.

WHY:

Alternet - The investigation was initiated after reports indicated that Trump was lying about the reasons for not using Air Force One to fly from Turkey to the U.K. after the NATO summit.

CBS News - The New York Times is challenging the subpoenas to protect the privacy of its journalists and their families.

HOW:

Alternet - The FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, began probing the cell phones of individuals in the White House, including top-level officials, following the reports about the Air Force One scandal.

CBS News - The New York Times is taking legal action to quash the subpoenas.

(UPDATED July 21, 2026 00:14 UTC)

The Justice Department is taking an aggressive approach by subpoenaing information from reporters' families, including a demand for the phone records of a reporter's mother, as part of its investigation into the Air Force One scandal. This inquiry was sparked by allegations that Trump misrepresented the reasons for not using Air Force One to travel from Turkey to the U.K. after the NATO summit, prompting the FBI, under Director Kash Patel, to investigate the cell phones of individuals in the White House, including high-ranking officials.

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(UPDATED July 20, 2026 23:18 UTC)

The New York Times is taking legal action to quash subpoenas that seek the phone records of its journalists and their families, including the spouses of two reporters and one reporter's mother. The newspaper is challenging these subpoenas to protect the privacy of its staff and their loved ones. This move comes as the USA has requested these sensitive records, raising significant concerns about journalistic freedom and privacy rights.