DOJ Rescinds Biden-Era Limits on Seizing Journalists’ Records in Criminal Leak Probes

The Justice Department has rescinded a Biden-era policy that limited prosecutors’ ability to obtain journalists’ records during criminal leak investigations, according to a memo issued on April 25 by Attorney General Pam Bondi. In the memo, Bondi said she was rolling back policies put in place under her predecessor, Attorney General Merrick Garland, that barred prosecutors from seizing information from or compelling testimony by members of the news media in leak cases. The Biden-era protections, Bondi argued, had been abused to shield political allies and obstruct legitimate investigations. “I have concluded that it is necessary to rescind Merrick Garland’s policies precluding the Department of Justice from seeking records and compelling testimony from members of the news media in order to identify and punish the source of improper leaks,” Bondi wrote. She directed the Office of Legal Policy to issue new regulatory language updating current laws to reflect the change....