DOJ Ends Practice of Obtaining Reporters' Records, Says It 'Values a Free Press' On 6/5/21 at 1:21 PM EDT Justice Department Spokesman Anthony Coley issued a statement Saturday that said the DOJ "will not seek compulsory legal process in leak investigations to obtain source information from members of the news media doing their jobs." "The department strongly values a free press, protecting First Amendment values, and is committed to taking all appropriate steps to ensure the independence of journalists," Coley added in a separate statement about the Justice Department move. White House administrations from both parties have long used subpoenas and court orders to obtain reporters' records in an effort to identify sources who may have revealed classified government information.