DOJ Bans Seizure Of Reporters’ Records In Leak Probes

The Washington Post reports:

Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday formally prohibited federal prosecutors from seizing the records of journalists in leak investigations, with limited exceptions, reversing years of department policy.

The new policy largely codifies the commitment Garland made in June, when he said the Justice Department would abandon the practice of seizing reporters’ records in leak investigations.

It aims to resolve a politically thorny issue that has long vexed Justice Department prosecutors trying to weigh the media’s First Amendment rights against government’s desire to protect classified information.

Read the full article.

BREAKING: Attorney General Merrick Garland bars federal prosecutors from seizing the records of journalists in leak investigations, reversing years of department policy. https://t.co/0bq7CPm2vJ

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 19, 2021