Trump administration subpoena NY Times reporters to testify after Air Force One security story

The Trump administration subpoenaed New York Times reporters after the paper reported that the president swapped a newly refurbished $400 million Air Force One jet while traveling to Turkey, citing a “security precaution.” The subpoenas, issued Friday by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, require testimony before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday. The Times said the move threatens press freedom and said it should “shock the conscience.” The report questioned whether a Boeing 747-8—described as featuring extensive space and luxury finishes—received sufficient security retrofits before being put into service, including lawmakers’ concerns about possible missile-defense and other modifications. The Secret Service reportedly pushed the swap. The administration said it relied on “distraction and misdirection” regarding threats, as Trump traveled to the NATO summit in Ankara on the new aircraft’s first international trip.