Clayton says reporter subpoenas part of 'national security investigation'
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton has confirmed that subpoenas issued to reporters are connected to what he describes as a national security investigation. The disclosure comes amid broader concerns about the use of legal process to compel journalists to reveal sources or information.
Why this matters: Subpoenaing reporters is one of the most direct ways a government can pressure the press into revealing sources. Labeling it a national security investigation does not change what it is. It just makes it harder to push back. Sources who talk to journalists about government wrongdoing do so because they believe there is some protection. When prosecutors can reach into newsrooms under a national security label, that protection gets a lot thinner. The label also tends to close off public scrutiny at exactly the moment when scrutiny matters most.
Who should care: Lawyers · Privacy officers · Compliance
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