# Claim 339

Garland's memo barred the department from using compulsory process to obtain journalists' newsgathering records.

Published 2026-09-22. Last reviewed 2026-09-22. 1 source.

- Statement: Garland's memo barred the department from using compulsory process to obtain journalists' newsgathering records.
- Field: occurred_on
- Value: 2021-07-19
- About: [incident 2021-doj-bans-seizing-reporters-records-garland](https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2021-doj-bans-seizing-reporters-records-garland)
- Source: Attorney General Merrick Garland restricts efforts to seize reporters' records. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/merrick-garland-justice-department-subpoenas-reporters/
- Publisher: CBS News
- Method: outlet report
- Checked: 2026-09-22
- Confidence: medium
- Status: current
- Source date: 2021-07-19

## Quotation from the source

> Because a free and independent press is vital to the functioning of our democracy, the Department of Justice has long employed procedural protections and a balancing test to restrict the use of compulsory process to obtain information from or records of members of the media.

Source page: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/339. The War On News, CC BY 4.0.