Hunting a Leaker, DOJ Scans Reporters' Calls

After conducting over 550 interviews and reviewing thousands of documents, Justice Department investigators looking for the person who leaked details of a foiled al-Qaeda bomb plot to the Associated Press in 2012 apparently still couldn't make the case. So rather than risk failure, the feds decided to push the limits of their investigative guidelines. In a May 10 letter, the department informed the AP that it had secretly subpoenaed unnamed third parties for the phone records from 20 telephone lines used at work and home by multiple AP reporters and editors across the country. Justice overrode the rule that it must...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!