The Department of Justice withdrew subpoenas it issued to reporters from The New York Times over reports that President Donald Trump switched from the new Air Force One to the old Air Force One on a trip home from Turkey over security concerns. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 23 (UPI) -- The Department of Justice on Thursday agreed in court to withdraw subpoenas it sent to three journalists at the New York Times to force them to reveal their sources.
The Justice Department "unilaterally" withdrew the subpoenas after U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian threatened to quash them if it did not do so, ABC News and The New York Times reported.
The department issued the subpoenas on July 10 over The Times' reports on the new Qatari-gifted Air Force One after security concerns caused President Donald Trump to travel home from Turkey on the old Air Force One.
Trump ordered the FBI to investigate the journalists, leading Kash Patel to seek subpoenas to force the reporters to reveal the government sources anonymously quoted in their reporting, including for them to provide phone and text message records.
