Press Freedom and Surveillance

FBI agents searched Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s Virginia home on Jan. 14 at the Pentagon’s request and seized her work cellphone, work and personal laptops, a recorder, portable hard drive, Garmin watch and other devices as part of an investigation into Pentagon contractor Aurelio Perez‑Lugones, who is charged with unlawful retention of national‑defense information; Attorney General Pam Bondi said the search was Defense Department‑requested and alleged Natanson was “obtaining and reporting classified…illegally leaked information,” though the Post reports she was told she is not the target. After the Post moved to compel return of the devices and bar their use, Magistrate Judge William Porter on Jan. 21 ordered the government to preserve but not review the seized materials pending a Feb. 6 hearing (government response due Jan. 28), and press‑freedom groups have sought release of the search‑warrant affidavit and called the seizure unprecedented.