WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US government subpoenaed ten news organizations in 2014, the Justice Department said upon releasing a report.
"Today’s report is an important step in the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to promote the freedom of the press, to keep the American people informed and to improve transparency and accountability regarding media-related process," US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said on Friday.
In a number of cases, the Justice Department did not follow up on the subpoenas or news organizations voluntarily complied with the orders.
In other instances, the subpoenas related to financial, commercial and tax information about the news organizations or reporters.
New York Times reporter James Risen was subpoenaed to testify at the trial of former CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling, who was convicted to 42 months in prison for providing classified information. Risen, however, refused to testify.
Other instances of US government issuing subpoenas related to threats against a reporter and a man accused of attempted murder.
