The Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal waged a secret legal fight to stop the US government from subpoenaing several reporters in connection with national security leak probes, the Post reported Tuesday.
The Justice Department subsequently withdrew the subpoenas, at least for the time being, though the episode remains a troubling example of President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign against the news media.
The Journal revealed the probes last month and said it was “vigorously” opposing “this effort to stifle and intimidate essential reporting.”
The Post remained silent about the matter until Tuesday, when it reported that the Justice Department “withdrew the subpoenas earlier this month after they were challenged by the news organizations, according to a Justice Department official familiar with the matter.”
Crucially, none of the journalists were ever compelled to testify about their anonymous sources.
