Stephen Miller and the DOJ hatching plan to throw journalists in jail over leaks: report

Newly appointed White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and the Department of Justice have reportedly been considering throwing journalists in jail to get them to reveal their sources when government intel is leaked, according to a report.

Following Susie Wiles' exit as chief of staff, The Atlantic reported that President Donald Trump urged the DOJ to pursue criminal-leak investigations on national security grounds.

There have reportedly been discussions among White House officials about tactics they could use to get journalists to reveal their sources — including arresting them, three people familiar with the subject told the outlet.

Two people described Wiles pushing back against trying to force journalists to divulge their government sources, while Miller was in favor of the move, insisting that it wouldn't take long for journalists to give up their sources, according to the report.

A DOJ spokesperson told The Atlantic : "This is absolutely false," and reiterated that when approached for comment by The Independent.

Meanwhile, a White House spokesperson told The Independent: "Unauthorized leaks of sensitive national security information will NEVER be tolerated. They endanger American lives and threaten our national security. Those responsible must be held accountable."

It is not illegal for journalists to receive — and write about — classified information they have received from a government leaker, even if the source themselves has violated the law by sharing the information.

In 1971, The New York Times published excerpts of a leaked report detailing the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, prompting the Nixon administration to try and block the publication of the leaked files. However, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the newspaper and press freedom.

On Friday, Trump revealed that his longtime aide, Miller, would be replacing Wiles, who Trump was reportedly "furious" with after Republicans lost control of Congress in last week's midterm elections.

A longtime proponent of expansive presidential authority, Miller takes over at a time when the Republican Party's midterm defeat could leave Trump more reliant on executive power to advance his domestic agenda.

Miller, 41, is one of Trump's longest-serving aides and one of only a few who have worked for the president throughout both his first and second terms in office.

However, he is best known for driving Trump's aggressive immigration crackdown, which has been widely unpopular among Americans. Just 36% of respondents to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed early this week approve of Trump's mass deportation agenda, with 54% disapproving.

Still, Trump announced Miller as Wiles' replacement on Friday.

"I am pleased to announce that Mr. Stephen Miller, the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Trump Administration, and one of my most trusted advisors, will become the Chief of Staff starting Monday, November 9, 2026," he wrote on Truth Social.

"Susie Wiles, who has done an outstanding job, will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation. I want to thank her for her service as Chief of Staff — She has done a great job!"