Justice Department says it will no longer seize reporters' records in leak investigations

The Department of Justice said Saturday it will no longer seize reporters' records when investigating leaks. 

The announcement was made weeks after The Washington Post, CNN and The New York Times received notification that the Justice Department had secretly obtained reporters' phone and email records during the early months of the Trump administration. The pledge marks an overhaul of a longstanding practice that has persisted across presidential administrations, including under former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush. Justice Department spokesperson Anthony Coley announced the change Saturday, noting it is "consistent" with direction from President Joe Biden.