The Justice Department subpoenaed four New York Times journalists on Friday seeking their testimony before a federal grand jury in Manhattan.
The subpoenas seek to force the reporters to testify under oath before the grand jury on Wednesday, and federal agents delivered some subpoenas to the reporters at their homes.
David McCraw, the paper's lawyer, said, "The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects," and called the summons a "brazen act" and "nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs."
The Justice Department said it is investigating illegal leaks of national security information and added, "We value and appreciate the important role that the press plays in this country, but DOJ also plays an important role to make sure that the people entrusted with our nation's secrets do what they're supposed to do with that information, which means not sharing classified information."
There was no immediate response from the White House.
The developments followed Mr. Trump's trip in which he flew the new Air Force One to a NATO summit in Turkey, then departed Wednesday on an older-model Air Force One for a trip to Mildenhall, a Royal Air Force base in Suffolk, England; both jets flew to Mildenhall and the president switched to the newer plane for the flight home to Joint Base Andrews.
The switch came at the urging of the Secret Service, and reporting said security officials were concerned the newer plane did not have some advanced security features, including antimissile capabilities; U.S. officials said the plane was hurried into service and lacked some desired capabilities, and a former U.S. government official said there was not enough time or money to outfit the new plane with defensive capabilities to fully meet requirements to serve as Air Force One.
Last month Mr. Trump unveiled the new Boeing 747-8 jet that the Qatari government donated last year as an "unconditional" gift to the U.S. The Air Force said the luxury jumbo jet was modified to transport the president and included upgrades in security, mission communications, logistics support, and advanced technology, and that any potential threats identified with the use of previously owned aircraft were "neutralised." The jet has been valued at an estimated $400 million.
The subpoenas were issued after the Times published a story outlining risks involving the Qatar-gifted plane; the subpoenas say the reporters' testimony is required "in regard to an alleged violation of federal criminal law." The Times reported on security concerns citing unnamed sources.
The reporting surfaced as tensions with Iran over a negotiated ceasefire deal were growing and the U.S. was launching strikes. Mr. Trump brushed off concerns about the plane, saying, "I have a threat all the time. I'm No. 1 on their list," and posted on social media that the stop in Mildenhall was so that service members there could view the new jet.