Attorney General Pam Bondi took a significant step to stop the dangerous media leaks that are putting Americans at risk with a new memo. Rescinding an order from Merrick Garland, Bondi significantly expanded the scope of DOJ powers to go after journalists who publish sensitive information provided by leakers.
For context, the Trump government has been plagued by major intelligence leaks, specifically surrounding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Just this year, several high-profile raids have been disrupted after insiders leaked operational details to the press.
In any case, the memo was published by NBC journalist Ken Deliman on April 25, 2025. The text read, “Safeguarding classified, privileged, and other sensitive information is essential to effective governance and law enforcement. Federal government employees intentionally leaking sensitive information to the media undermines the ability of the Department of Justice to uphold the rule of law, protect civil rights, and keep America safe. This conduct is illegal and wrong, and it must stop.”
Providing a confident justification, Bondi said, “Therefore, I have concluded that it is necessary to rescind Merrick Garland’s policies precluding the Department of Justice from seeking records and compelling testimony from members of the news media in order to identify and punish the source of improper leaks.’ I am also directing the Office of Legal Policy to publish new regulatory language…”
Carving out space for freedom of speech, she limited the scope of her new rule. The AG stated, “Without question, it is a bedrock principle that a free and independent press is vital to the functioning of our democracy. The Department of Justice will defend that principle, despite the lack of independence of certain members of the legacy news media.”
Providing more details, Pam Bondi wrote, “Under the new regulatory language implemented today, the Department will continue to employ procedural protections to limit the use of compulsory legal process to obtain information from or records of members of the news media, which include enhanced approval and advance-notice procedures. These procedural protections recognize that investigative techniques relating to newsgathering are an extraordinary measure to be deployed as a last resort when essential to a successful investigation or prosecution.”
Slamming the previous president, Bondi explained how Biden was a disaster for America. She clarified, “However, under the Biden Administration, “elitist leaders in Government.. weaponized their undeserved influence to silence perceived political opponents and advance their preferred, and often erroneous, narrative about significant matters of public debate.’”
Hammering away at the Democrats, she stated, “This weaponization included prosecutors trying to muzzle protected First Amendment speech criticizing the Biden Administration, including through gag orders targeting not only President Trump’ but also other criminal defendants such as Dr. Eithan Haim.* The Biden Administration also abused Garland’s overly broad procedural protections for media allies by engaging in selective leaks in support of failed lawfare campaigns.” The leaks have not abated since President Trump’s second inauguration, including leaks of classified information.”
Winding down the memo, she blasted the leakers’ selfish actions. Bondi promised, “This Justice Department will not tolerate unauthorized disclosures that undermine President Trump’s policies, victimize government agencies, and cause harm to the American people. “Where a Government employee improperly discloses sensitive information for the purposes of personal enrichment and undermining our foreign policy, national security, and Government effectiveness— all ultimately designed to sow chaos and distrust in Government- this conduct could properly be characterized as treasonous.”
Concluding her remarks, Pam Bondi said, “The perpetrators of these leaks aid our foreign adversaries by spilling sensitive and sometimes classified information onto the Internet. The damage is significant and irreversible. Accountability, including criminal prosecutions, is necessary to set a new course.”
Watch Kristi Noem call out leakers here: