The Justice Department wrote to Washington Post reporters informing them that under former President Donald Trump the department obtained their phone records and tried to get their e-mail records to obtain information on reporting they did on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The Post demanded that the department explain why they took such action in violation of free press rights. The Justice Department said they weren’t after the reporters but rather individuals within the government that illegally released information to the media. (The Washington Post, May 7, 2021, by Devlin Barrett)
The Trump Justice Department also seized a New York Times reporters phone and e-mail records and prosecuted a former Senate aide over leaks. Before obtaining reporters’ phone and e-mail records, the Justice Department is supposed to take other steps to find the information. (The New York Times, May 8, 2021, by Adam Goldman)
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