Wednesday, 30 April 2025

AG Pam Bondi RESCINDS Biden-Era Policy to Subpoena Journalists In Leak Investigation

100 Percent Fed Up
Hits: 10

Attorney General Pam Bondi just rescinded a Biden-era DOJ policy that protected members of the press from subpoenas.

Bondi stated that the reversal of the policy — originally issued by her predecessor Merrick Garland under the Biden administration — was necessary as part of ongoing investigations into improper leaks.

Not only will the DOJ now be authorized to subpoena journalists, but they will also be able to seek reporters’ phone records.

Check out the details:

 

In a DOJ memo, Pam Bondi stated:

Safeguarding classified, privileged, and other sensitive information is essential to effective governance and law enforcement. Federal government employees intentionally leaking sensitive information to the media undermines the ability of the Department of Justice to uphold the rule of law, protect civil rights, and keep Americasafe.This conduct is illegal and wrong, and it must stop. Therefore, 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.

Axios explained:

Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday she is resuming the practice of attempting to seize reporters’ phone records in order to smoke out leakers.

Why it matters: It is a complete reversal of the policy that former President Biden and former Attorney General Merrick Garland put in place restricting subpoenas of reporters’ news-gathering materials.

  • “This conduct is illegal and wrong, and it must stop,” Bondi, referring to recent administration leaks, wrote in an internal memo obtained by Axios.
  • “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,” she wrote.

    • The big picture: Bondi’s announcement comes as her office prepares to investigate at least three suspected leakers referred Wednesday by National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard.

  • “A leaker within the IC sharing information on Israel / Iran with the Washington Post,” Gabbard wrote last month on X. She has not specified what stories or journalists merited a leak investigation.

    • CBS News also reported:

    The Justice Department on Friday reversed a Biden administration policy that prevented federal officials from seeking journalists’ records and compelling their testimony in leak investigations.

    Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated that reporters’ records could be subpoenaed for reasons broader than unauthorized disclosures of classified information, according to an internal memo obtained by CBS News. Bondi said the reversal was necessary for “safeguarding classified, privileged, and other sensitive information.” The memo also decried leaks that “undermine” President Trump’s agenda.

    “This Justice Department will not tolerate unauthorized disclosures that undermine President Trump’s policies, victimize government agencies, and cause harm to the American people,” Bondi said.

    “This conduct is illegal and wrong, and it must stop,” she said.

    This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport.

    View the original article here.


    Source link

    Search