Miami (July 13, 2026) — The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) expresses its strongest rejection of the judicial subpoenas issued to four journalists from The New York Times by the United States Department of Justice, as part of an investigation related to the publication of information about potential security vulnerabilities involving the new presidential aircraft.
According to publicly available information, journalists Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt were summoned to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan in the coming days following the publication of a report that revealed Secret Service concerns regarding the use of an aircraft donated by Qatar and modified for presidential duties. The subpoenas, which according to the newspaper were delivered to the reporters’ homes, come amid efforts by federal authorities to identify the sources of the leaked information.
The newspaper announced that it will appeal the judicial order, which it considers a threat to the ability of the press to gather information of public interest. Last September, IAPA also denounced as an attack on press freedom a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against The New York Times and four of its journalists over alleged defamation.
IAPA President Pierre Manigault stated: “These types of measures are highly concerning because they directly involve journalists in potential legal proceedings that could lead to the forced disclosure of confidential sources. We warn that these actions not only violate fundamental principles of journalism but also have a chilling effect on future investigations of public interest.”
Manigault, chairman of Evening Post Publishing Inc., based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States, added: “The subpoenaing of journalists because of the content of their reporting represents an alarming sign of institutional intimidation. When public authorities resort to judicial mechanisms to pressure the press, the system of democratic checks and balances is seriously weakened, and the public’s right to receive independent information is put at risk.”
The report in question addressed legitimate concerns regarding the security of the presidential aircraft, a matter of public interest that fully justifies journalistic scrutiny.
“Instead of ensuring transparency, authorities have chosen to move forward with an investigation that, in practice, exposes journalists to legal pressure to reveal their sources,” said Martha Ramos, chair of the IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information.
Ramos, editorial director of Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM), stated: “Forcing journalists to appear before a grand jury in cases involving the dissemination of information of public importance constitutes a form of coercion incompatible with international standards on freedom of expression. Source protection is not a privilege of journalists, but an essential safeguard for society.”
IAPA recalls that both international jurisprudence and the principles established in the Declaration of Chapultepec state that journalists must not be subject to retaliation for investigating and publishing relevant information. The organization also emphasizes that professional confidentiality is an indispensable pillar for ensuring the flow of information on matters of public interest, especially when issues related to national security are involved.
While authorities have stated that journalists are not the targets of the investigation, IAPA warns that the mere issuance of subpoenas already constitutes a form of pressure that may discourage journalistic work and affect the willingness of sources to report wrongdoing.
During the first half of 2026, the Department of Justice had already subpoenaed reporters from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal to testify before grand juries regarding their confidential sources. After legal battles, the media organizations succeeded in blocking the orders, and in both cases the Department of Justice withdrew the subpoenas, according to press reports.
IAPA has documented in its semiannual reports the growing challenges faced by journalists and media organizations in the United States in freely informing the public about government policies and actions.
The organization also expresses concern that this case is part of a broader trend of attempts to investigate leaks through actions that directly involve journalists, increasing risks to press freedom and the public’s right to know.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.
