Contractor Indicted as Judge Freezes Review of Seized Washington Post Reporter’s Devices

Overview

• FBI agents searched Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s Virginia home on January 14 and seized multiple personal and work devices during a national‑security leak investigation.
• Investigators told Natanson she was not the target of the probe, which centers on Maryland systems administrator Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones.
• On January 21, U.S. Magistrate Judge William B. Porter ordered the government to preserve but not review the seized materials until the dispute is heard in court next month.
• Prosecutors announced on January 22 that Perez-Lugones was indicted on five counts of unlawfully transmitting and one count of unlawfully retaining classified national defense information.
• Court filings say investigators recovered classified documents and messages to a “Reporter1,” while The Washington Post argues the seizure swept up extensive confidential-source communications and press groups call for stronger legal protections such as the PRESS Act.