Justice Dept. Subpoena Process Faces Scrutiny

The Justice Department's investigations during Trump's first term aimed to identify sources of leaked classified information and involved secret subpoenas of communication records from two Democratic lawmakers and 43 congressional staffers, evenly split between parties. While no political motivation was found by Inspector General Michael Horowitz, the report criticized the potential chilling effect on congressional oversight and the lack of necessary safeguards for such subpoenas. The investigations targeted Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, among others, and were not disclosed until after Trump left office, raising concerns about executive overreach and privacy violations. The report further highlighted the potential risks to First Amendment protections for journalists, as records from CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post were also sought. Despite the comprehensive nature of the investigations, no charges were filed, and the cases are now closed.