Washington Post accuses Trump administration of spying on three of its journalists
Washington Post Headquarters (illustrative image).
AFP - BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
A new case could taint the Trump presidency.
The administration of the former president is said to have spied on journalists.
Their phone records were secretly seized as they investigated Russian interference.
Publicity
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With our correspondent in New York,
Loubna Anaki
For
the
Washington Post
, this is "
an intrusion into the activities of its reporters and a violation of the 1st Amendment
."
The daily revealed that under Donald Trump's mandate, the justice department seized the telephone records of three of its journalists, professional landline, personal and mobile phone records for the period from April to July 2017.
The
Washington Post
explains that at that time, the reporters in question were investigating Russian interference in the 2016 campaign. An investigation which notably revealed that
Jeff Sessions
, Donald Trump's attorney general, had discussed with the ambassador of Russia during the Republican candidate's campaign.
The
Washington Post
is worried about "
such use of government power to access journalists
'
communications
."
He asks for explanations from the Ministry of Justice.
Which has not given for the moment an exact reason to explain this procedure.
The spokesperson for the ministry was content to point out that access to the telephone records of
Washington Post
journalists
had been made in accordance with the rules in place.
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United States
Donald trump
Justice