Justice Under Trump Collects Data on Washington Post Appeals | Abroad

The leak under investigation occurred early in Trump’s presidency. The Department of Justice, who also serves as the US prosecutor, has also sought to seize the email history of Washington Post reporters.

‘Abuse of power’

Journalists Ellen Nakashima, Greg Miller, and former Washington Post reporter Adam Entous received a letter from the Department of Justice on Monday advising them that the department had their appeal files from April 15, 2017 to July 31, 2017. This concerns l ‘call history for home phones, work landlines and cell phones.

“We are deeply concerned about this use of government power to access journalists’ communications data,” said Cameron Barr, acting editor of the Washington Post. “The Ministry of Justice must immediately clarify the reasons for this violation in the activities of journalists who exercise their profession under the protection of constitutional freedom of expression.”

Sink

The news media and supporters of constitutional freedom of expression in the United States have long criticized attempts by American governments to access journalists’ communications data to find leaks. Critics say this unfairly restricts governments’ freedom of the press.