FBI Searches Washington Post Journalist’s Home Amid Leak Investigation
The FBI conducted a search of a Washington Post reporter’s residence on Wednesday in connection with a leak investigation concerning a Pentagon contractor accused of disseminating classified information, according to a statement from the Justice Department.
Hannah Natanson, a reporter who has been chronicling President Donald Trump’s impact on the federal government, had her phone and a Garmin watch confiscated during the search of her Virginia home. Known for her extensive coverage of the federal workforce, Natanson recently published an article detailing her process of acquiring numerous sources, earning her the nickname “the federal government whisperer” among colleagues.
While investigations into classified documents are routine, the decision to search a journalist’s home signifies a heightened effort by the government to address leaks.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on X, “Leaking classified information puts America’s national security and the safety of our military heroes in serious jeopardy. President Trump has zero tolerance for it and will continue to aggressively crack down on these illegal acts moving forward.”
The search is linked to an investigation involving a Maryland system administrator accused of removing classified reports from work. Court documents indicate that Aurelio Perez-Lugones, who had a top-secret security clearance, was charged with unlawful retention of national defense information. Authorities discovered documents marked “SECRET” in his Maryland home and vehicle, including one in a lunchbox.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the search was conducted at the Defense Department’s request, noting the journalist was “obtaining and reporting classified and illegally leaked information from a Pentagon contractor.”
Bondi emphasized the administration’s stance against leaks, stating on X, “Trump’s Republican administration will not tolerate illegal leaks of classified information that, when reported, pose a grave risk to our Nation’s national security and the brave men and women who are serving our country.”
The FBI declined to comment on the events of Wednesday, while the Washington Post stated it was assessing the situation. Efforts to obtain a statement from Perez-Lugones’ legal representatives were made.
Over time, the Justice Department has devised and updated internal procedures in dealing with media leaks. In April, Bondi introduced new guidelines empowering prosecutors to use subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants to pursue government personnel responsible for “unauthorized disclosures” to journalists.
This approach contrasts with the previous policy under President Joe Biden’s administration, which protected journalists from having their phone records seized surreptitiously during leak investigations — a practice condemned by media and press freedom advocates.
The current firm stance is distinct from the Justice Department’s earlier handling of a disclosure involving sensitive military details via a Signal chat in the spring. A reporter was inadvertently included in the chat. Bondi had expressed at the time that it appeared to be an honest mistake and refrained from launching an inquiry, despite assertions from some current and former U.S. officials that such details would typically be classified.
