White House Officials Asked to Surrender Phones in Leak Investigation Over Qatari Presidential Plane Security Flaws

The FBI has intensified its investigation into leaks revealing security flaws in the Qatari plane gifted to former President Donald Trump, which was intended to serve as the U.S. presidential aircraft. As part of the probe, several White House officials were ordered to hand over their mobile phones to investigators, though some refused, according to CNN. Trump expressed anger over the leak and personally discussed the investigation with FBI Director Christopher Wray, an unusual direct involvement that departs from the typical independence of the FBI from the executive branch.

The investigation, led by Wray and Trump’s Chief of Staff Suzie Wiles, was launched swiftly following the leak, which caused significant turmoil within the administration. Earlier reports from The New York Times revealed that the White House instructed Wray to open the inquiry, and several Times journalists were subpoenaed. The FBI also requested the newspaper to disclose its sources before publication but was refused.

During the investigation, at least one federal agency warned its employees to immediately contact legal counsel if approached by external parties seeking information or electronic devices. Investigators sought data not only from White House staff but also from individuals who accompanied Trump or were involved in the trip, spanning multiple government agencies. However, compliance with phone surrender requests was not universal.

The New York Times announced its intention to legally challenge the subpoenas against its journalists, with its chief legal officer David McCraw condemning the orders as "offensive and inappropriate." The security concerns surrounding the $400 million Qatari plane surfaced after Trump unexpectedly declared he would not return from the NATO summit in Turkey on the gifted aircraft, citing fears of Iranian attempts to harm the president due to the plane’s vulnerabilities.