Federal authorities executed a search warrant on Wednesday at the Virginia residence of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, intensifying a debate over press protections and the handling of classified leaks under the Trump administration.
The move stems from an ongoing investigation into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining sensitive military intelligence, officials said.
The raid took place at Natanson’s Alexandria-area home, where agents seized several electronic devices, including her phone, two laptops and a Garmin watch.
Investigators tied the warrant to a case involving classified material allegedly removed from secure government systems by Pentagon contractor Aurelio Perez-Lugones, Trending Politics reports.
Perez-Lugones, a Maryland-based systems administrator with top-secret clearance, has worked as a government contractor since 2002.
Court filings allege he accessed classified intelligence reports related to a foreign nation without authorization, printed them, and stored them at his home, where documents marked “SECRET” were later recovered.
He is charged with unlawful retention of national defense information, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors have urged a federal judge to keep him detained, citing the ongoing risk posed by his access to sensitive knowledge.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the search, stating that the Department of Justice and FBI acted after determining a journalist had obtained and reported classified information illegally leaked by the contractor.
Bondi emphasized that the administration views such leaks as a direct threat to national security and to U.S. warfighters.
FBI Director Kash Patel also confirmed the operation, highlighting that it is narrowly focused on the contractor and the unauthorized materials.
Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray told staff that Natanson and the newspaper are not considered targets of the investigation, according to a memo obtained by Fox News Digital.
He called the search “an extraordinary step that raises constitutional concerns” but affirmed the paper’s commitment to robust reporting. The Post said it is coordinating with legal counsel while monitoring developments.
Natanson has covered the Trump administration’s restructuring of the federal workforce, reporting on layoffs, agency consolidations and policy changes.
Her work has relied heavily on federal sources, and she has described herself as “the federal government whisperer” in prior reporting, highlighting her close access to government employees, TP notes.
The search has reignited a broader discussion about the balance between national security and press freedom.
Conservative officials have defended the operation, stressing that it targets the contractor and seeks to recover classified materials, not suppress lawful journalism.
“The Trump administration will not tolerate illegal leaks of classified information that, when reported, endanger our nation’s security and those serving on the frontlines,” Bondi wrote.
The legal proceedings are ongoing. Perez-Lugones faces detention hearings in federal court in Baltimore, where prosecutors argue only continued custody can prevent further misuse of classified information.
While Natanson’s devices were seized, authorities note that her reporting itself is not the focus of the investigation.
This case underscores the administration’s emphasis on holding individuals accountable for leaking national defense information.
While press advocates continue to monitor the matter closely, officials maintain that the operation was limited in scope and targeted at preventing further threats to U.S. intelligence and security.
