NYT Reporters to Testify over Article on Trump's Plane

The New York Times reported that the US Department of Justice had ordered several of its journalists to testify before a federal grand jury after they had reported on security concerns regarding the new presidential aircraft, Air Force One, which was gifted to Donald Trump by Qatar.

The media company said the subpoenas were issued on Friday and that the journalists are to appear before the grand jury on Wednesday to testify "in regard to an alleged violation of federal criminal law".

The subpoenas were issued by Manhattan US Attorney Jay Clayton, and in some cases, federal agents delivered them directly to the journalists' homes, the newspaper reported.

The NYT described this move as "an extraordinary escalation in President Trump's efforts to threaten and intimidate independent news organizations".

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice, in a statement to Reuters, neither confirmed nor denied the subpoenas. However, they said the administration is not targeting journalists, but rather individuals who leak classified information. The White House referred all questions to the Department of Justice.

Trump said on Wednesday that he would use an older Air Force One aircraft for his flight from Ankara to the British Royal Air Force base at Mildenhall "for old time's sake". Meanwhile, the new plane landed at the same base so that members of the US military stationed there could tour it.

Video from Wednesday evening showed Trump boarding the new Air Force One, a gift from Qatar, at the British base as it was preparing to depart for the United States.

(Reuters, luc)