Sources report Justice Dept dropped subpoenas for reporter grand jury appearances

The Justice Department has withdrawn subpoenas that sought grand jury testimony from reporters at The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, according to reports.

The subpoenas were related to national security matters and investigations into government leaks, sources said. The withdrawals occurred earlier in June 2026, following legal challenges by the respective news organizations.

Journalists Subpoenaed:

• Washington Post national security journalist Ellen Nakashima was among those subpoenaed.
• Three Wall Street Journal journalists also received grand jury subpoenas.

No Testimony Given:

None of the targeted journalists ultimately testified before the grand jury, sources reported.

Newspaper Responses:

• The Washington Post and Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, condemned the subpoenas.
• A Washington Post spokesperson called the subpoena to Nakashima "a clear violation of constitutionally guaranteed press freedom."

  Matt Murray Statement:

  • Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray affirmed the newspaper's "unwavering support for the First Amendment rights enshrined in our constitution, the legal protections afforded journalists, and our unblinking support of our journalists and press freedom."

    Criticism from Advocacy Groups:

    • Gabe Rottman, vice president of policy at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, described the administration's actions as "extremely aggressive" and a "dangerous intrusion of the independence of the press."

    • Mark Schoeff Jr., president of the National Press Club, characterized the decision to seek grand jury testimony from journalists as "one of the most aggressive actions against a free and independent press in recent memory."

    Reasons for Withdrawal:

    • The specific reasons for the Justice Department's withdrawal of the subpoenas were not immediately clear.

    Prior Policy Changes:

    • In April 2025, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi rescinded a policy from the previous administration that protected journalists from having their phone records secretly seized during leak investigations.

      Under the new approach allowing prosecutors to use subpoenas and warrants for "unauthorized disclosures," sources noted this context regarding the recent withdrawals.