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Watchdog admonishes DOJ for subpoenaing private records of congressional aides and reporters

The article discusses a report by the Justice Department's Inspector General, Michael Horowitz, which criticized the DOJ for improperly subpoenaing private records of congressional aides and reporters. The investigation revealed that between 2017 and 2021, the DOJ, under the Trump administration, issued subpoenas for phone and email records of several individuals, including journalists from CNN, The New York Times, and a former House Intelligence Committee staff member. These actions were part of investigations into leaks of classified information. The report highlighted that these subpoenas were issued without proper authorization from senior DOJ officials, violating department policy. Furthermore, the report noted that the DOJ did not adequately inform Congress about these actions, which could have implications for the separation of powers and press freedoms. The Inspector General recommended policy changes to prevent such occurrences in the future, emphasizing the need for higher-level approval for such sensitive investigations.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
[ https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/watchdog-admonishes-doj-for-subpoenaing-private-records-of-congressional-aides-and-reporters/ar-AA1vCkzF ]