White House officials are reportedly investigating the source of leaked information concerning security concerns surrounding a Qatari-donated aircraft that President Donald Trump hopes to use as Air Force One, according to CNN.
The inquiry is being led by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and FBI Director Kash Patel and has included requests for some White House officials to surrender their cell phones as investigators seek to identify the source of the leak.
According to CNN, the investigation began after details about the aircraft’s security capabilities were reported by The New York Times, prompting frustration within the White House.
The report said Patel, who had been scheduled to travel to Chicago, returned to Washington to oversee the investigation.
The leaked information centered on concerns about a Boeing aircraft donated by Qatar that the administration has considered for presidential travel.
Sources cited by CNN said the aircraft had been quickly retrofitted with defensive systems but remained less secure than the existing presidential aircraft. The full extent of the reported security differences has not been publicly disclosed.
President Trump announced last week that a different aircraft would travel to RAF Mildenhall in England before his departure for the NATO summit. At the time, he said the change would allow U.S. service members stationed there to tour the plane.
Following publication of the initial reports, the Justice Department issued subpoenas to at least four New York Times reporters, according to the newspaper.
Times White House correspondent Maggie Haberman said the subpoenas were issued within 48 hours of the first article’s publication.
Speaking on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Haberman said the investigation went beyond subpoenas, stating that federal agents had also visited journalists’ homes.
The New York Times has said it intends to challenge the subpoenas in court.
CNN also reported that investigators have sought information from individuals who traveled with the president or played a role in the trip during which the aircraft was discussed.
According to the report, not everyone asked to surrender a phone has complied with the request, per Mediaite.
The investigation has drawn attention because of longstanding Justice Department policies designed to maintain independence between criminal investigations and the White House.
Critics have questioned whether the inquiry could blur that separation, while supporters argue that unauthorized disclosures involving presidential security warrant a thorough investigation.
Neither the White House nor the FBI has publicly identified any suspects or announced whether any officials have been accused of leaking classified or sensitive information.
The administration has not released additional details about the aircraft’s security systems or the status of its evaluation for possible use as Air Force One.
As of Wednesday, the investigation remained ongoing, with officials continuing efforts to determine how information about the aircraft’s security assessment became public.
