FBI Agents Search Washington Post Reporter's Home in Classified Documents Investigation
FBI agents conducted a search at the Virginia home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson on Wednesday. This action forms part of a Justice Department investigation into a Pentagon contractor suspected of removing classified materials. The Associated Press first reported this development.
Devices Seized During Search
During the search, authorities seized a phone, two laptops, and a Garmin watch from Natanson's residence. The Washington Post confirmed these details in its reporting. Hannah Natanson has been covering US President Donald Trump's transformation of the federal government for the newspaper.
AP noted that Natanson has reported extensively on the federal workforce. She recently published an article describing how she gained hundreds of new sources. This led one colleague to call her "the federal government whisperer."
Significant Escalation in Leak Investigations
While investigations involving classified documents occur regularly, searching a reporter's home represents a significant escalation. This move intensifies the government's campaign against leaks of sensitive information.
Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray informed colleagues via email that both Natanson and the newspaper are not targets of the investigation. Murray expressed deep concern about this aggressive action.
"Nonetheless, this extraordinary, aggressive action is deeply concerning and raises profound questions and concern around the constitutional protections for our work," Murray wrote. "The Washington Post has a long history of zealous support for robust press freedoms. The entire institution stands by those freedoms and our work."
Government Officials Comment on the Search
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the search occurred at the Defense Department's request. Bondi claimed the journalist was "obtaining and reporting classified and illegally leaked information from a Pentagon contractor."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the matter on social media platform X. "Leaking classified information puts America's national security and the safety of our military heroes in serious jeopardy," Leavitt wrote. "President Trump has zero tolerance for it and will continue to aggressively crack down on these illegal acts moving forward."
Details of the Underlying Investigation
The search warrant indicates the investigation focuses on a system engineer and information technology specialist working for a government contractor in Maryland. Authorities allege this employee took home classified materials.
The employee, Aurelio Perez-Lugones, faces charges of illegally retaining national defense information. Court records show these charges were filed earlier this month. Perez-Lugones has not been accused of sharing classified material or leaking information, according to AP reporting.
Perez-Lugones held a top secret security clearance. Authorities accuse him of printing classified and sensitive reports at work. During a search of his Maryland home and car this month, officials found documents marked "SECRET." One document was discovered inside a lunchbox, court papers reveal.
Washington Post Response and Legal Proceedings
The Washington Post announced on Wednesday that it was monitoring and reviewing the situation closely. Lawyers representing Perez-Lugones received an email seeking comment. Perez-Lugones is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday for a detention hearing.
First Amendment Groups Express Alarm
First Amendment advocacy groups voiced serious concern about the search. They warned this action could chill investigative journalism that holds government officials accountable.
"Physical searches of reporters' devices, homes, and belongings are some of the most invasive investigative steps law enforcement can take," said Bruce Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
"While we won't know the government's arguments about overcoming these very steep hurdles until the affidavit is made public, this is a tremendous escalation in the administration's intrusions into the independence of the press."
Justice Department Policies on Media Leaks
The Justice Department has developed and updated internal guidelines regarding leaks to news media over the years. In April, Attorney General Bondi rolled back a policy established under President Joe Biden's administration.
That previous policy barred investigators from secretly obtaining journalists' phone records during leak probes. News outlets and press freedom advocates had consistently criticized this tactic.
The policy change restored prosecutors' authority to use subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants. These tools help hunt for government officials who make "unauthorized disclosures" to journalists. A memo issued by Bondi stated that press members are "presumptively entitled to advance notice of such investigative activities." The memo also specified that subpoenas should be "narrowly drawn."
Additionally, warrants must include "protocols designed to limit the scope of intrusion into potentially protected materials or newsgathering activities," according to the memo.
Contrasting Approaches to Information Disclosures
The aggressive stance toward The Washington Post contrasts with the Justice Department's approach to another sensitive information disclosure. Last spring, senior Trump administration officials participated in a Signal chat that contained sensitive military information. A reporter was accidentally added to that chat.
Attorney General Bondi indicated publicly at that time that she was disinclined to open an investigation. She expressed confidence that the episode resulted from a mistake, AP reported.
Bondi also repeated Trump administration talking points that the highly sensitive information in the chat was not classified. However, current and former US officials have stated that posting aircraft launch times and bomb release schedules before pilots were airborne would typically be classified information.
The Washington Post continues to assess this developing situation while emphasizing its commitment to press freedoms and constitutional protections for journalistic work.
