Watchdog Criticizes Trump-Era DOJ for Secretly Seizing Lawmakers' and Journalists' Records
TL;DR Summary
A DOJ watchdog report criticizes the Justice Department under Trump's first term for not following procedures when obtaining phone and email records of journalists and lawmakers during leak investigations. The report found no high-level review was conducted for subpoenas involving 43 congressional staffers and two Democratic House members. Former Attorney General Bill Barr was not informed of these actions, and the report found no political motivation behind the subpoenas. The DOJ has since revised its policies, but the incoming Trump administration may roll back protections for journalists.
- Watchdog faults DOJ in Trump’s first term for secretly obtaining records of lawmakers and journalists POLITICO
- Trump’s DOJ secretly obtained records of his FBI pick Kash Patel, lawmakers, staffers and media in leak investigation CNN
- Trump's DOJ secretly obtained phone and text message logs of 43 congressional staffers and 2 members of Congress NBC News
- Trump-Era Leak Investigations Extended Deep Into Congress, Review Finds The New York Times
- Justice Dept. IG calls for new protections on seizing communications The Washington Post
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