DOJ Accused of Harassment Against Medical Journals

Several leading medical journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, CHEST Journal, and Obstetrics and Gynecology, have received letters from interim U.S. Attorney Edward Martin questioning their editorial independence and suggesting partisan bias. The letters posed detailed questions about how journals handle competing viewpoints, potential misinformation, and the influence of funders and advertisers, raising concerns among editors and First Amendment advocates about intimidation and threats to academic freedom. Editors of the targeted journals have strongly defended their peer review standards, editorial independence, and commitment to evidence-based science, emphasizing their First Amendment rights. The Lancet, though not a direct recipient, published an editorial condemning the correspondence as harassment and intimidation, warning of broader threats to scientific integrity in the U.S. Critics argue that these actions could chill free scientific discourse and are politically motivated, with Martin accused of targeting perceived critics of the administration. Legal experts have noted that medical journals enjoy robust constitutional protections similar to newspapers. The U.S. Attorney's Office has not responded to requests for comment on the purpose or selection criteria for these inquiries.