Justice Department prosecutors in Virginia subpoenaed reporter Matthew Cole for records related to a 2025 investigation into a failed U.S. military operation.
10:16 PM
The Trump administration subpoenaed freelance reporter Matthew Cole of The New York Times in connection with reporting on a failed top secret military mission in North Korea, the newspaper revealed Saturday.
Prosecutors in Virginia issued the subpoena, which was delivered by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents to Cole's home in New York in February, according to the Times. The subpoena demands that Cole turn over more than two years' worth of his contacts, sources, and notes, as well as his testimony.
The subpoena relates to a 2025 story co-written by Cole and Times national correspondent Dave Philipps. That investigation detailed how Navy SEALs in early 2019 killed several unarmed North Koreans during a mission to plant a listening device.
Cole's attorney, David A. O'Neil, said in a statement that the reporter "has dedicated his professional life to bringing official misconduct to light and informing the public about the workings of its government." O'Neil added that Cole "will not be intimidated from continuing that important work. He will defend press freedom and the First Amendment from this administration's brazen attacks on journalists, and he will honor his commitment to his sources."
The Times said the government had attempted to keep the subpoena secret. A Times spokesperson, Charlie Stadtlander, said the newspaper supports Cole's decision to make the subpoena public. "We support Matthew Cole's decision to make public a subpoena that the government has attempted to keep secret," Stadtlander said in an emailed statement.
The subpoena is not the first targeting Times journalists under the Trump administration. New York Times reporters have also recently been subpoenaed for their reporting on a Qatari-gifted aircraft given to President Donald Trump.
Former president seeks to prevent disclosure of roughly 70 hours of recordings and transcripts from 2016-2017 interviews with ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer.
Federal investigators are examining whether Carroll committed perjury in her civil lawsuits against the former president.
The Times challenges a requirement that journalists be escorted while on Pentagon grounds, alleging First and Fifth Amendment violations.
Attorneys general of both states issued subpoenas to FIFA over ticket pricing and sales practices for 2026 World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium.
Former FBI Director James Comey faces charges over an Instagram post showing seashells arranged as "8647," which officials say threatened President Trump.
McDonald, a former federal prosecutor and current Trump personal lawyer, will replace Jay Clayton, who was nominated for director of national intelligence.
