Protect the Freedom of the Press!

Attorney General Pam Bondi has rescinded a Justice Department policy protecting journalists and media outlets from the risk of criminal prosecutions. The new directive opens the door for “subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants to compel production of information and testimony by and relating to members of the news media” and allows for the Justice Department to “question or arrest members of the news media.” The Department of Justice during Donald Trump’s first term secretly obtained the phone records of reporters for the Washington Post, CNN, and the New York Times. During his reelection campaign, Trump vowed retribution against media outlets and called for the arrests of journalists he doesn’t like. Since his reelection, Trump has sued and reached a $15 million settlement from ABC and is currently negotiating a settlement in his $20 billion lawsuit with CBS, according to reporting. Unless Congress reins in the Department of Justice’s powers, Attorney General Bondi will almost certainly act on Trump’s threats. No journalist should go to jail for refusing to disclose confidential sources. Subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants must not be used to intimidate and silence media outlets from reporting the truth. I’m calling on you to stop Attorney General Pam Bondi’s overreach and protect journalists and the freedom of the press now.