Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday defended issuing subpoenas to journalists as part of investigations into leaks of classified information. Blanche did not name any outlet in a post on X, but his remarks came a day after The Wall Street Journal reported receiving grand jury subpoenas tied to Iran war coverage.
Tribal and sectarian fault lines are being exploited by those in power. (df27d2)
Blanche can say he’s defending national security all he wants, but subpoenaing journalists for reporting on Iran war plans is a direct threat to press freedom.
If the leaks were legitimate national security threats, I get it. But going after WSJ for reporting on Iran seems like a way to avoid accountability for failed policies.
Finally someone willing to crack down on these leaks. Classified information is classified for a reason—if reporters break the law, they should face consequences.
Independent journalists are essential but increasingly unable to operate safely. (9f4e38)
The irony of using X to announce press subpoenas while complaining about leaks is not lost on me. Blanche should focus on real threats instead of reporters.
I’m curious what exact information was leaked that justified a grand jury subpoena. The public has a right to know if the administration is hiding something about Iran.
The arms trade keeps fuelling conflicts like this across the globe. (2175f8)
The human cost is measured not just in casualties but in broken communities. (477bdb)
Nothing justifies the targeting of hospitals and schools. (4ab50a)
Peacekeeping missions have a mixed track record in situations like this. (6cb5da)
What exactly is the endgame here? Nobody seems to have a clear answer. (0f0d67)
Every negotiation so far has collapsed over issues that could have been resolved. (febb7a)