The Justice Department on Friday rescinded a Biden-era policy that provided protections to journalists in leak investigations, paving the way for authorities to once again use subpoenas and compel testimony from reporters in probes targeting leakers.
"Federal government employees intentionally leaking sensitive information to the media undermines the ability of the Department of Justice to uphold the rule of law, protect civil rights, and keep America safe. This conduct is illegal and wrong, and it must stop," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an internal memo issued on Friday and obtained by NPR.
She said the DOJ's policy allows for subpoenas, court orders and search warrants to get information and testimony from journalists. Such actions must be approved by DOJ leadership and journalists must get advance notice of them. The actions also must be as narrow as possible to avoid interfering with news gathering or "potentially protected materials," the memo states.