Blanche says media ‘should not be surprised’ if they’re subpoenaed over stories
Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Todd Blanche He said Tuesday that members of the media “should not be surprised” if they receive subpoenas to obtain information about their sources for news on matters sensitive to national security, following a Wall Street Journal report that the media outlet had received subpoenas stemming from its coverage of the war in Iran.
“It is this administration’s priority to prosecute leakers who share our country’s secrets with journalists and, as a result, risk our national security and the lives of our soldiers,” Blanche said. “It should come as no surprise that any witness with information about these criminals, whether a reporter or not, would receive a subpoena regarding the illegal leak of classified materials.”
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that it received subpoenas in March related to a Feb. 23 article reporting military officials warning President Donald Trump about the risks of carrying out this attack. Military operation against Iran.
According to the Journal, Trump then personally encouraged Blanche to pursue war-related leaks more aggressively — at one point handing her a list of articles with a sticky note reading “Treason” on it.
“The Department of Justice pursues the facts in all circumstances and enforces the law to detect those who commit crimes against the United States,” a Justice Department spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images – PHOTO: Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche speaks at a news conference at the Department of Justice on May 4, 2026 in Washington.
Blanche had previously said at a news conference that the Justice Department could move forward by directly targeting journalists with subpoenas, alarming media outlets and targeting First Amendment advocates who say the move is a break from recent precedent.
The Justice Department under the Biden administration has previously implemented strict guidelines on when prosecutors can take mandatory legal action to target reporters, framing such moves as a last resort when U.S. national security is endangered.
Then-Attorney General Pam Bondi canceled these guidelines last year.
