FBI agents searched Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's Virginia home, seizing her phone, laptops, and a Garmin watch. The raid stems from a probe into leaked Pentagon information, targeting a contractor named Aurelio Perez-Lugones. Natanson is not a suspect, but the seizure of her devices marks a rare escalation in hunting sources.

Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the action, defending it as necessary to stop illegal leaks that threaten national security. This move follows the Trump administration's rollback of Biden-era protections for journalists. Press freedom advocates call it an alarming assault on the First Amendment, arguing it will chill investigative reporting by intimidating sources and reporters alike.

The Post received a subpoena for information related to the contractor. Bondi stated the leaker is already in custody, but the Justice Department has not explained why a home search was deemed essential over standard methods like subpoenaing records. Legal experts and the Knight First Amendment Institute are demanding a public justification for this aggressive tactic.