Trump Pressed DOJ to Subpoena Journalists Over Iran War Leaks, Documents Show

President Donald Trump pressured the Department of Justice to issue subpoenas targeting reporters’ records in connection with leaks about the Iran war, multiple media outlets reported.

According to The Wall Street Journal and CNN, Trump allegedly complained to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about media disclosures related to the conflict. The president provided Blanche with a stack of news articles that he and other officials believed posed a threat to national security. A sticky note labeled in Sharpie on the top of the stack read: “Treason.”

Trump reportedly focused on articles detailing his decision-making process behind the initiation of the Iran war, including insights from his advisers prior to the military operation.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that it had received grand jury subpoenas dated March 4, seeking records belonging to its reporters. The request was linked to a February 23 article titled “Pentagon Flags Risks of a Major Operation Against Iran.”

“The government’s subpoenas to The Wall Street Journal and our reporters represent an attack on constitutionally protected newsgathering. We will vigorously oppose this effort to stifle and intimidate essential reporting.”

— Ashok Sinha, Chief Communications Officer, Dow Jones (publisher of the WSJ)

Spokespeople for the White House and the DOJ did not respond to requests for comment from TheWrap. However, a Department of Justice spokesperson told the WSJ, “In all circumstances, the Department of Justice follows the facts and applies the law to identify those committing crimes against the United States.”

The investigation aims to identify government insiders leaking classified information, not to target journalists, a source told CNN on Monday.

Trump’s Previous Threats Against Journalists

This development follows a statement Trump made over a month ago, in which he threatened to jail an unspecified journalist after reports emerged about a missing Air Force officer in Iran.

“We didn’t talk about the first one for an hour, then somebody leaked something, which we’ll hopefully find that leaker. We’re looking very hard to find that leaker … They didn’t know there was somebody missing until this leaker gave the information. So whoever there was, we think we’ll be able to find it out, because we’re going to go to the media company that released it, and we’re going to say, ‘National security, give it up or go to jail.’”

— Donald Trump

Trump’s remarks sparked widespread concern among First Amendment advocates. Mark Schoeff, president of the National Press Club, warned that the president’s comments “risk chilling constitutionally protected reporting … sending a dangerous signal to those who would seek to undermine press freedom.”