White House, DOJ weigh arresting journalists over leaks
The gist
The Atlantic reported White House and DOJ talks on tactics, including arrests, to make journalists name sources.
The DOJ denies it, and no decision was reported.
How it unfolded
- Nov 6, 2026Trump announced that Stephen Miller, then deputy chief of staff, would replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, effective Monday 9 November.
- Nov 7, 2026The Atlantic reported, citing three people familiar with the matter, that there had been discussions in the White House and at DOJ about tactics — including arrests — to force journalists to reveal their sources; The Daily Beast carried its account the same day.
- Nov 7, 2026Reports said the DOJ had been discussing potentially jailing journalists to reveal the identities of leakers, and that Miller was behind the plan; other sources said Trump had pressured the DOJ to pursue criminal cases over classified leaks.
Key terms
- DOJ
- Executive department of the U.S. federal government that enforces federal laws and administers justice.
- deputy chief of staff
- The head of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, a senior aide leading White House staff operations.
- classified information
- Government information whose disclosure is restricted by law because it concerns national security.
Source: Wikipedia