Washington, D.C. — Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said reporters who receive classified information could face subpoenas as the Justice Department intensifies leak investigations connected to reporting on the Iran war.
Blanche said Tuesday that prosecuting government leaks is a top priority for the Trump administration and warned that journalists involved in handling classified information may become part of federal investigations. His comments followed reports that President Donald Trump pressed the Justice Department to identify sources behind media stories involving U.S. military operations and intelligence related to Iran.
The administration argues unauthorized disclosures can jeopardize national security and military personnel. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles also warned staff against leaking sensitive information, saying such disclosures could undermine ongoing operations.
Press freedom advocates and legal analysts reacted sharply to Blanche’s remarks. Critics argued subpoenaing reporters could chill investigative journalism and raise First Amendment concerns, especially in national security reporting. Some commentators compared the approach to past government crackdowns on leaks during wartime and intelligence controversies.
The Justice Department has not announced specific prosecutions involving reporters, but the comments signal a more aggressive stance toward leak investigations under Trump’s second administration.
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