Urgent Warning: The Trump Administration is Making it Easier to Target Journalists and Members of Congress
In a deeply troubling development that could reshape the balance between the press, Congress, and executive power, the Trump Administration has taken steps to dismantle key protections for journalists and may soon shift how federal prosecutors pursue cases against members of Congress. These moves, which may seem administrative on the surface, carry significant implications for democracy, transparency, and accountability in the United States.
First, they called for my prosecution. Now, they are rescinding journalistic protections and making it easier to prosecute members of Congress. It’s not a coincidence. It’s a pattern. I need your help to fight back. Your subscriptions allow me to do it free from corporate influence:
DOJ to Rescind Longstanding Journalist Protections
Recently, a memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) intent to rescind and revise the “news media guidelines” — rules that have been in place since the Nixon era. These guidelines dictate how and when prosecutors can compel journalists to testify, hand over notes, or surrender confidential sources.
These safeguards were most recently strengthened in 2022 to explicitly prevent federal prosecutors from targeting journalists for publishing classified information — a critical protection in an era where investigative reporting often relies on whistleblowers and leaked material. Under the current rules, only under the narrowest of exceptions could the DOJ pursue legal action involving journalists.
https://aaronparnas.substack.com/p/urgent-warning-the-trump-administration
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