The White House directed FBI Director Kash Patel to personally oversee a leak investigation tied to The New York Times' reporting on security issues with the new Air Force One, resulting in subpoenas issued to several Times reporters on Friday night.
Patel canceled a planned trip to Chicago and spent roughly eight hours at the White House on Friday, directing the effort from there instead of FBI headquarters—a significant break from standard practice.
He also briefed senior administration officials on the probe, according to people familiar with the matter. The investigation focuses on sources who disclosed sensitive details about the Qatari-gifted jet used as Air Force One, including a last-minute aircraft switch during a trip near a region of conflict due to security concerns, such as insufficient advanced anti-missile defenses. Subpoenas compelled reporters—including Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt—to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan as soon as July 15.
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| Kash Patel |
The administration has defended the probe as necessary to protect national security and pursue those responsible for leaking classified or sensitive operational information. This episode marks a high-profile escalation in tensions between the Trump administration and the media over national security leaks.
Historically, the Justice Department has shown more restraint in subpoenaing journalists in leak cases. FBI officials have disputed some characterizations of Patel's White House involvement, describing the meeting as a briefing on an ongoing matter.
The developments unfolded just days after the Times published its initial stories on the Air Force One security issues.