WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department under President Donald Trump
made it easier for prosecutors investigating leaks to the news media to
subpoena records and testimony from journalists, according to a memo
seen by Reuters on Friday that reversed a Biden-era policy.
New
regulations detailed in the Friday memo will allow prosecutors in
criminal investigations to use subpoenas, court orders and search
warrants to compel "production of information and testimony by and
relating to members of the news media," the memo stated.
“Safeguarding
classified, privileged and other sensitive information is essential to
effective governance and law enforcement,” Attorney General Pam Bondi
wrote in the memo. A source familiar with the matter said the policy took effect immediately.
The Justice Department and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The directive reverses a policy
the department implemented during Democratic President Joe Biden's
administration. That barred prosecutors from seizing reporters’ phone
and email records in most circumstances.
The
Biden administration's policy followed criticism of the Justice
Department for secretly subpoenaing records on reporters and
congressional staff members as prosecutors pursued leaks of national
security information during Trump’s first term from 2017 to 2021.
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