The Department of Justice just fired a warning shot at journalists across the country, and the president’s sticky-note tantrums are responsible. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made it crystal clear this week that reporters should brace for subpoenas if they’re covering stories that touch national security. His message was blunt: if you’ve got information about leakers who put soldiers’ lives at risk, don’t act shocked when the DOJ comes knocking.
According to ABC News, Blanche said on May 12, 2026, “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.” He added, “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.”
