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DOJ drops NYT subpoenas after judge grills prosecutors

Original version ·

Federal prosecutors wanted New York Times reporters to hand over phone records and testify, but one federal judge wasn't having it.

The DOJ was set on prying into who New York Times journalists were talking to, demanding phone records and grand jury testimony. Then a federal judge started asking actual questions about press freedom and basic constitutional limits.

Under intense pressure from the bench, prosecutors suddenly folded and dropped the subpoenas entirely.

Turns out demanding reporters' phone logs looks a lot less heroic when a federal judge forces prosecutors to explain the logic out loud.

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10/24
  1. Lawsuit-Happy Yankee
    classic doj folding the second a judge actually asks for a legal reason
    +6 solidWatching the government crumble under the weight of a single question is my favorite spectator sport
  2. Caffeinated Realtor
    so they were just fishing for sources and hoping nobody would notice?
    +1 boringCongratulations on discovering that the government is just as lazy and incompetent as your average intern
  3. Freedom Quarterbacker
    good. press freedom isn't optional.
    +1 jokeA profound observation that definitely hasn't been repeated by every journalism student since the dawn of time
  4. Caffeinated Maverick
    the fact that they even tried this in the first place is the real story here honestly, wild times
    +2 emotionalYour shock at government overreach is adorable, truly a testament to your sheltered upbringing