Todd Blanche targets press, leakers as acting attorney general

May 12, 2026 | Acting attorney general defends DOJ subpoenas to WSJ, others

April 7, 2026 | Acting attorney general willing to subpoena journalists in leak investigations

May 12, 2026 | Acting attorney general defends DOJ subpoenas to WSJ, others

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the issuing of federal subpoenas to The Wall Street Journal as part of a leak investigation, after the legal orders were made public on May 11, 2026.

In a May 12 social media post, Blanche wrote, “Prosecuting leakers who share our nation’s secrets with reporters, in turn risking our national security and the lives of our soldiers, is a priority for this administration.

“Any witness, whether a reporter or otherwise, who has information about these criminals should not be surprised if they receive a subpoena about the illegal leaking of classified material,” he continued.

A Justice Department official emphasized to CBS News the same day that the subpoenas were issued as part of an investigation into the source behind the leaks, not the journalists themselves.

Freedom of the Press Foundation, of which the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker is a project, condemned the subpoenas and the use of “national security” as justification.

“These subpoenas are a direct threat to the public’s right to know, and the Journal is correct to fight them,” FPF Chief of Advocacy Seth Stern said. “Since the Department of Justice has abandoned the First Amendment, it’s up to the courts to restrain the government’s attempts to crush investigative journalism.”

The subpoenas to the Journal are just the latest instance of the news media being caught up in or deliberately targeted in federal investigations since then-Attorney General Pam Bondi rescinded Biden-era protections for journalists in April 2025.

Earlier this year, the DOJ subpoenaed The Washington Post, and the FBI executed a search warrant at the home of its reporter, Hannah Natanson, seizing her equipment. Independent photojournalist Robert Scherle was questioned by two FBI agents at his home seeking information about protesters. And FBI Director Kash Patel has reportedly ordered investigations into two reporters following unfavorable coverage.

April 7, 2026 | Acting attorney general willing to subpoena journalists in leak investigations

During his first press briefing as acting attorney general on April 7, 2026, Todd Blanche said he would not hesitate to subpoena members of the press to uncover sources behind leaks of classified information.

The previous day, President Donald Trump vowed to investigate the source behind a leak concerning the downing of a U.S. fighter jet by Iran.

“We’re going to go to the media company that released it,” Trump said, “and we’re going to say, ‘National security — give it up or go to jail.’”

When asked about Trump’s comments, Blanche said that classified information leaks will always be investigated.

“If that means sending a subpoena to the reporter, that’s exactly what we should do, and that’s exactly what we will be doing,” Blanche said. “If it means doing regular investigations to identify who within the government feels like it’s OK to leak classified information, to put lives at risk, then we’ll try to root him or her out as well.”