Subpoenas Issued to Journalists Covering Air Force One Safety Concerns
Several reporters from a prominent newspaper have received subpoenas after raising issues about safety features on the new Air Force One aircraft. Among them are Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmidt, according to the newspaper. This action followed a report suggesting that President Donald Trump departed Turkey on an older model of Air Force One due to security worries.
Before the article was published, FBI officials had requested that the piece be preserved for national security reasons. Additionally, a follow-up article indicated that the new Air Force One lacks some of the advanced security systems found in older models, which are designed to protect against various threats.
Journalists from the newspaper noted that Trump’s decision to use the older aircraft was made based on a recommendation from the Secret Service. The new Air Force One, a Boeing 747-8, was reportedly a gift from Qatar and is missing some critical security features, such as anti-missile capabilities. Both articles referenced anonymous sources familiar with these sensitive matters.
A senior FBI official indicated before the publication that there had been discussions regarding the need to withhold the article for national security considerations. The agency’s representatives engaged with the reporters and the senior editorial team, but specifics on security matters were not disclosed by the official. The newspaper’s public relations representative confirmed this account.
The subpoenas compel the journalists to testify about “alleged violations of federal criminal law.”
Earlier, a report noted that President Trump introduced a new Air Force One model, courtesy of Qatar, with Boeing working on two jets as part of a contract established during his presidency.
Trump mentioned that all federal military aircraft are to have a unified color scheme. Boeing’s jets are set to enter service following a 2018 agreement, with plans for operational use by 2028.
Frustration arose for Trump last year when Boeing did not complete the aircraft by the initially planned dates of 2024 and 2025.
It was noted in the newspaper that a source said the decision to fly out of Turkey on the older Air Force One was strongly influenced by the Secret Service’s advice.
Meanwhile, the White House communications director described the new Air Force One as a “state-of-the-art aircraft with high-level security protocols,” affirming that a comprehensive approach is being taken to address potential threats to the president.
