FBI Raids Home of Washington Post Reporter Amid Classified Leaks Investigation

Thu Jan 15 2026 00:31:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The FBI has searched the home of a Washington Post journalist, Hannah Natanson, as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of leaking classified information. The search raises concerns about press freedom and the implications for journalism.

The FBI conducted a search of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's home as part of an inquiry into Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a contractor accused of retaining classified information. While Natanson's electronic devices were seized, officials indicated that she is not the focus of the probe. The incident has ignited debates concerning press freedom and the protection of journalistic sources.

Agents with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided the home of a Washington Post reporter this week as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of leaking classified information, officials said.

In a post on X, US Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that agents had searched the home of a journalist who allegedly 'was obtaining and reporting classified and illegally leaked information from a Pentagon contractor.'

Bondi confirmed that the contractor had been arrested.

The Washington Post has identified the reporter as Hannah Natanson, who has reported extensively on how President Donald Trump's administration has streamlined the federal workforce.

Natanson was at her home in Virginia when federal agents arrived to search her residence. They confiscated her phone, a work and personal computer, and a Garmin watch, according to the outlet.

Reportedly, Natanson was informed she was not the focus of the investigation, which centers on Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a systems engineer with top-secret security clearance.

An FBI affidavit indicated that Perez-Lugones accessed and printed classified intelligence reports. During a search of his car, investigators discovered classified information concealed in a lunch box. However, there is no indication that Perez-Lugones distributed this information.

Court filings reveal that Perez-Lugones has been charged with unlawful retention of national defense information and is expected to appear in court soon.

Bondi emphasized that the Trump administration would not tolerate illegal leaks of classified information, citing potential risks to national security.

The raid on Natanson's home has provoked significant concern from advocates of press freedom and free speech.

Jameel Jaffer, executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute, remarked, 'Any search targeting a journalist warrants intense scrutiny because these kinds of searches can deter and impede reporting that is vital to our democracy.'

Natanson has previously documented efforts to gather insights from a network of over 1,000 sources from various government sectors, shedding light on the extensive changes within federal agencies.

Furthermore, in April, Bondi terminated Biden-era policies aimed at shielding journalists from having their phone records seized or being compelled to testify in leak investigations.