Control Continues in Second Term After First Term
WP Protests: "Threat to Press Freedom"
The Donald Trump administration in the United States has decided to investigate journalists' communication records. While the government cited recent cases of government information leaks as the reason, the real purpose is to identify whistleblowers who provided information to the media. The administration had already implemented this policy during its first term from 2017 to 2021.
The Donald Trump administration in the United States has decided to investigate journalists' communication records. Photo by REUTERS Yonhap News
According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 25th (local time), Pam Bondi, the U.S. Attorney General, sent an official notice to government agencies announcing a change in the investigative policy regarding journalists. She referenced information leak cases that occurred under the Trump administration. Bondi stated, "We support an independent and free press," but also emphasized, "We will not tolerate unauthorized disclosures of information that undermine President Trump's policies," and added, "Protecting classified, privileged, and other sensitive information is an essential element of effective government and law enforcement."
Matt Murray, Executive Editor-in-Chief of the WP, immediately pushed back. In a statement, he said, "The First Amendment, which defines freedom of the press in the United States, plays a central role in our democracy and is a constitutional right guaranteed to all Americans." He criticized the Trump administration, saying, "The government's attempts to subpoena journalists and search their communication records threaten these constitutional rights that are essential for an independent press."
Bruce Brown, Executive Director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, also voiced his opposition, stating, "Protections for journalists are not simply for the journalists themselves, but for the American public as a whole."
During Trump’s first term, the U.S. Department of Justice also attempted to identify whistleblowers within the government by searching the phone and email records of journalists affiliated with the WP, CNN, and the New York Times (NYT). This policy disappeared in 2022 when the Joe Biden administration took office, in an effort to guarantee press freedom.
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