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Attorney General holds meeting with publishers targeted in leaks probe

The Robert F. Kennedy U.S. Department of Justice building in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Ken Lund, Flickr Creative Commons)

United States Attorney General Merrick Garland on Monday held an off-the-record meeting with key executives at several national news organizations who were the target of a widespread Department of Justice probe that attempted to learn the real-world identity of anonymous sources used by the outlets.

The meeting was described as “positive” by a lawyer representing the New York Times, one of several news outlets in attendance, who added that the focus of the meeting was the Justice Department’s decision to obtain records related to the communications of its journalists during the Trump administration.

Arthur “A. G.” Sulzberger, the publisher of the Times, was also present at the meeting, as were executives and attorneys from CNN and the Washington Post.

“In today’s meeting, we once again sought a full accounting of what happened and requested that the Department of Justice codify that it will no longer seize journalists’ records during leak investigations,” Sulzberger said in a statement. “We were encouraged by Attorney General Garland’s statements, but we will continue to push until our concerns are addressed.”

While the meeting was off the record, an agreement between the executives in attendance and Garland held that the news organizations were allowed to report on their concerns but were precluded from disclosing the attorney general’s response.

Earlier in the day, Garland affirmed the Justice Department would launch an internal investigation into a report that its staff obtained through legal means the communication records of a number of federal lawmakers.

The attorney general’s deputy, Lisa Monaco, was said to already be working on the investigation, with a focus on strengthening the Justice Department’s policies regarding that matter and the one concerning the collection of records from accounts belonging to journalists.

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About the Author:

Matthew Keys

Matthew Keys is a nationally recognized, award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience reporting on the business of media, broadcast television, streaming video platforms and emerging technology. He is the founder, publisher, and editor of TheDesk.net, a trusted source for in-depth news and analysis on the evolving media landscape.

Matthew’s reporting has appeared in major industry outlets, including StreamTV Insider, Digital Content Next and KnowTechie, where he covers topics at the intersection of journalism, streaming services, and digital media innovation. Throughout his career, he has held editorial roles at respected organizations such as Thomson Reuters, Tribune Media, the Disney-ABC Television Group and McNaughton Newspapers.

Known for his accuracy, clarity, and deep industry insight, Matthew continues to provide reliable reporting and thought leadership in a rapidly changing media environment. His work is frequently cited by industry leaders, analysts, and trade publications.