The DOJ just responded to the New York Times over reporters being subpoeaned after classified intelligence was leaked.
They made clear that reporters were not the targets, but that they must find the leak.
Here’s what they wrote:
Every administration has addressed the crime of leaking national security information. To the extent that we have to investigate breaches of national security, that’s something that we will continue to do. To be clear, reporters are not the targets, those leaking classified information are.
We value and appreciate the important role that the press plays in this country, but DOJ also plays an important role to make sure that the people entrusted with our nation’s secrets do what they’re supposed to do with that information, which means not sharing classified information.
We recognize there may always be natural tension there, but we are not going to ignore the law and stop investigating the people who work in the administration and think it’s okay to leak classified information impacting national security.
Every administration has addressed the crime of leaking national security information. To the extent that we have to investigate breaches of national security, that’s something that we will continue to do. To be clear, reporters are not the targets, those leaking classified… https://t.co/72nDkFFzOU
— DOJ Rapid Response (@DOJRR47) July 11, 2026
I like what they said here and how they said it. Way more diplomatic than I was expecting, and I think it conveys the proper attitude when investigating something of this magnitude, especially when it involves the subpoena of reporters.