FBI Seizes Washington Post Journalist's Devices in Search of Home in Leak Probe

"The FBI searched the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson on Wednesday morning as part of an investigation into the alleged mishandling of classified information. Natanson was at her Virginia home when the search took place and, according to the newspaper's own reporting, agents examined her devices before seizing a phone, Garmin watch, and two laptops one personally owned and the other issued by The Post."

"The newspaper reported that the raid took place as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified materials. According to an FBI affidavit as described by The Post, the warrant is tied to an inquiry into Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a Maryland-based system administrator with top-secret clearance. He is accused of accessing classified intelligence reports and taking them home, where documents were allegedly found in his lunchbox and basement."

"The move is noted by the outlet as rare, even in aggressive leak investigations where authorities typically pursue journalists' phone or email records rather than physically searching their homes. Natanson has spent the past year closely covering the Trump administration's campaign to fire large numbers of federal workers and reshape the civil service to more directly serve the president's agenda. Her reporting documented widespread anger and fear inside government agencies as employees confronted pressure to fall in line or risk losing their jobs."

FBI agents searched Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's Virginia home as part of an investigation into alleged mishandling of classified information. Agents examined devices and seized a phone, a Garmin watch, and two laptops — one personally owned and one issued by The Post — and informed Natanson she was not the focus. The warrant is linked to an inquiry into Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a Maryland system administrator with top-secret clearance accused of taking classified intelligence reports home, where documents were reportedly found in his lunchbox and basement. The search is described as rare in leak investigations. Natanson has reported on efforts to reshape the civil service and documented fear among federal employees.

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