Overview
- Agents searched Hannah Natanson’s Virginia home last week and took two laptops, a phone, and a smartwatch, according to news reports and editor statements.
- The Justice Department, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi, says Natanson and The Washington Post are not targets in the investigation.
- Prosecutors tie the search to Defense Department contractor Aurelio Perez-Lugones, who faces federal charges over alleged mishandling of classified materials.
- Press groups and The Washington Post’s executive editor condemned the raid, warning it threatens confidentiality and deters whistleblowers.
- Legal critics cite the Privacy Protection Act and note Bondi reversed Merrick Garland’s 2021 limits on seeking reporters’ work, as concerns grow alongside new Pentagon press restrictions.