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White House War Room Subpoenas NYT Reporters Over Qatar Leak

7/16/2026

50 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Chief of staff Susie Wiles and FBI director Kash Patel turned a West Wing office into a war room to steer the leak investigation.
The administration subpoenaed four New York Times journalists in the probe of Qatar-gifted aircraft disclosures.
Federal employees were emailed to contact agency attorneys before complying with outside phone or data requests.
Journalists and press-freedom groups denounced the subpoenas as a First Amendment threat.

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Story summary

Chief of staff Susie Wiles and FBI director Kash Patel turned a West Wing office into a war room to steer the leak investigation.
The administration subpoenaed four New York Times journalists in the probe of Qatar-gifted aircraft disclosures.
Federal employees were emailed to contact agency attorneys before complying with outside phone or data requests.
Journalists and press-freedom groups denounced the subpoenas as a First Amendment threat.