The FBI has conducted a search of a Washington Post reporter's home amid an investigation into a contractor alleged to have leaked classified information. According to officials, the investigation is focused on Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a contractor accused of unlawfully retaining national defense information.
Agents searched the residence of journalist Hannah Natanson in Virginia, collecting her computers and personal devices. She has reported on the drastic changes to the federal workforce implemented under the Trump administration, raising concerns about press freedom following this incident. US Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the administration intends to respond decisively to any illegal leaks that could endanger national security.
The search has ignited fear among press freedom advocates, who caution that such actions can deter journalists from reporting crucial information. Jameel Jaffer, from the Knight First Amendment Institute, highlighted the implications of targeting journalists during a federal investigation.
While Natanson is not considered the main target of the investigation, her experience reflects wider concerns about the erosion of journalistic protections, especially following changes enacted under the current administration.
