Trump Administration Sought NYT Journalists' Phone Records

The Trump administration pursued phone records of several New York Times journalists and some of their relatives, according to a motion unsealed on Monday. This action represents an aggressive attempt to unmask confidential sources for reporters who wrote about the president's Air Force One jet's travel from Qatar. The New York Times filed a letter-motion over the weekend detailing these efforts, which the newspaper noted were more expansive than previously known and covered a time frame exceeding the specific news articles in question.

These efforts to compel the identity of sources through additional subpoenas occurred during a period of increasingly contentious relations between the executive branch and the press. The scope of the investigation into the sources for reporting on the Air Force One jet from Qatar was notably broad, seeking information beyond the immediate period of publication. This indicates a significant push by the administration to identify individuals who provided information to the press.

The New York Times' filing highlights the unusual nature and extent of the government's actions. The pursuit of phone records extended to journalists and their family members, underscoring the administration's determination to uncover the origins of the reporting. The details emerged through a legal motion, bringing to light the extent of the government's surveillance activities targeting journalists and their sources.