Justice Dept Drops Subpoenas After Judge Rebuke | Fargo News

The Justice Department backed down, dropping subpoenas targeting New York Times journalists after a federal judge slammed their tactics as reckless and unconstitutional, threatening sanctions and demanding they withdraw the requests. The judge made it clear that press protections under the First Amendment trumped the government’s push for leaks, especially when subpoenas targeted reporters’ family members — a move the government admitted was a mistake. While prosecutors argued the Attorney General could override protections, the judge rejected that, calling it a last-resort tactic, not a go-to tool. The Times hailed it as a victory for press freedom and the rule of law, while the Justice Department insisted the investigation remains active — though the judge’s ruling has forced a major retreat. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/82ec96bb6f1bfba1