"Some of the most consequential reporting in US history—from Watergate to warrantless wiretapping after 9/11—was & continues to be made possible because #reporters have been able to protect the identities of confidential #sources & uncover & report stories that matter to people across the political spectrum," said Bruce Brown, Reporters Cmte president, an advocacy group for #journalists, in a stmnt.

…"The Attorney General must also approve efforts to question or arrest members of the news media," the memo said.

…The #Trump admin has taken an assertive approach in dealing w/the #news #media, including restricting the #AssociatedPress's #access to the White House over its decision to refer to the Gulf of Mexico & taking control of the White House #PressPool, a function previously performed by the White House Correspondents' Association.

The directive reverses a policy the #DOJ implemented during #Democratic President Joe Biden's admin. That barred prosecutors from seizing #reporters’ phone & email records in most circumstances.

The #Biden admin’s policy followed criticism of the DOJ for secretly subpoenaing records on reporters & congressional staff members as prosecutors pursued leaks of *national security* info during #Trump’s first term.

New #regulations detailed in the memo will allow prosecutors in #criminal investigations to use #subpoenas, #CourtOrders & #SearchWarrants to compel "production of information & testimony by & relating to members of the #news #media," the memo stated.
“Safeguarding classified, privileged & other sensitive information is essential to effective governance & #law enforcement,” #Trump AG #PamBondi wrote in the memo.
#Constitution #FirstAmendment #FreePress #FreeSpeech #journalism #Autocracy #tyranny

#RFKJr, #Trump’s *#health* secy, singled out #NEJM in an interview w/the “Dr. Hyman Show” podcast last year as an example of a #medical journal that has participated in “lying to the public” & “retracting the real science.”

Andrew Nixon, a spox for the #HHS, declined to comment on whether RFKJr had any involvement w/the letters.

In the interview, RFKJr said he would seek to prosecute medical journals under federal anti-corruption laws.

“There is no basis to say that anything other than the most stringent #FirstAmendment protections apply to #medical journals,” she said. “It appears aimed at creating a type of fear & chill that will have effects on people’s expression — that’s a constitutional concern.”

It’s unclear how many journals have received these letters or the criteria that #EdMartin used to decide which publications to target.

Amanda Shanor, a #FirstAmendment expert at the University of Pennsylvania, said the information published in reputable #medical journals like #NEJM is broadly protected by the #Constitution.

In most cases, journals have the same robust rights that apply to newspapers — the strongest the Constitution provides, she added.

At least 3 other journals have received similar letters from #EdMartin, a Republican activist serving as interim #USAttorney in DC. Martin has been criticized for using his office to target opponents of the #Trump admin.

His letters accused the publications of being “partisans in various scientific debates” & asked a series of accusatory questions about bias & the selection of #research articles.

A federal prosecutor in Washington has contacted The New England Journal of Medicine, considered the world’s most prestigious #medical journal, w/questions that suggested without evidence that it was biased against certain views & influenced by external pressures.

Dr. Eric Rubin, the editor in chief of #NEJM, described the letter as “vaguely threatening” in an interview with NYT.

Leaders of elite private institutions that have been repeatedly targeted by #Trump were among the signers.
“We are open to constructive reform & do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue #GovernmentIntrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, & work on our campuses,” the letter, released by the American Assoc of #Colleges & #Universities, said.