DOJ ends Biden-era policy against subpoenaing journalists

(Axios) Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday she is resuming the practice of attempting to seize reporters' phone records in order to smoke out leakers.

Why it matters: It is a complete reversal of the policy that former President Biden and former Attorney General Merrick Garland put in place restricting subpoenas of reporters' news-gathering materials.

"This conduct is illegal and wrong, and it must stop," Bondi, referring to recent administration leaks, wrote in an internal memo obtained by Axios.
"I have concluded that it is necessary to rescind Merrick Garland's policies precluding the Department of Justice from seeking records and compelling testimony from members of the news media in order to identify and punish the source of improper leaks," she wrote.

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/25/bondi-doj-garland-subpoena-journalists?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ5x6hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFkTmdOTHU1TUU5OGNucjVDAR5QYYZ1kCg1FU1uaGRwj5KnvSa8xedx3JCAgG3PwqGMGQTqDTDMYdxZYuY3kQ_aem_GpiJTxHNzdUwVk6d6ENw7A