A.G. Bondi reverses Garland policy against subpoenaing journalists

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: LAWdork

A.G. Bondi reverses Garland policy against subpoenaing journalists

Stating that leaks "undermine President Trump's policies," Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that "the news media 'must answer subpoenas' when authorized."

CHRIS GEIDNER
APR 25, 2025

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday announced a stepped-up effort to go after government leaks by changing the policy for when the Justice Department will seek information from journalists -- reversing a Biden administration policy barring "compulsory process."

Echoing President Donald Trump's criticism of the Justice Department during the Biden administration, Bondi wrote in an "UPDATED POLICY REGARDING OBTAINING INFORMATION FROM, OR RECORDS OF, MEMBERS OF THE NEWS MEDIA" memorandum for all Justice Department employees, "The Biden Administration ... abused [Attorney General Merrick] Garland's overly broad procedural protections for media allies by engaging in selective leaks in support of failed lawfare campaigns."

"{U}nder the revised regulations implemented today, the news media 'must answer subpoenas' when authorized at the appropriate level within the Department of Justice," Bondi wrote, ending Garland's policy. Under Garland's policy, he had stated that DOJ would "no longer use compulsory legal process for the purpose of obtaining information from or records of members of the news media acting within the scope of newsgathering activities ...."

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Read more: https://www.lawdork.com/p/bondi-reverses-garland-media-subpoena-policy