Incoming White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller favored efforts to force journalists to disclose government sources, The Atlantic reported.
Officials discussed arresting journalists as one tactic to compel disclosure of sources behind leaks, the magazine reported, citing three people familiar with the discussions.
Two of those people said Miller supported pressure for disclosure because he believed journalists would give up their sources quickly. The same two said outgoing chief of staff Susie Wiles pushed back against efforts to compel reporters to identify government sources, according to the report.
The Atlantic also reported that President Donald Trump urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate leaks he viewed as a national security matter.
A DOJ spokesperson told The Atlantic, “This is absolutely false.” A White House spokesperson said unauthorized leaks would “NEVER be tolerated” and those responsible “must be held accountable.”
The White House announced Miller's appointment as chief of staff Nov. 6, with him due to take over from Wiles Monday, Nov. 9.
