FBI Searches Washington Post Reporter’s Home in Probe of Classified-Materials Leak

The FBI executed a search warrant this week at the Alexandria, Virginia, residence of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson as part of an investigation into a federal contractor suspected of mishandling classified materials, officials said.

Operation and Official Statements

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the search was carried out at the Pentagon's request.

“The leaker is currently behind bars,” Bondi said. “I am proud to work alongside Secretary Hegseth on this effort. The Trump Administration will not tolerate illegal leaks of classified information that, when reported, pose a grave risk to our Nation's national security and the brave men and women who are serving our country.”

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on social media that agents served the warrant Wednesday. Patel alleged that the reporter had received "classified, sensitive military information from a government contractor — endangering our warfighters and compromising America's national security." He added that the suspected leaker was arrested and is in custody, and that the FBI would make no further comment while the investigation remains active.

Target of the Investigation

According to The Washington Post, the probe is focused on Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a Maryland-based system administrator and government contractor who holds a top-secret clearance. Perez-Lugones, a former U.S. Navy member living in the Annapolis area, was charged on Jan. 8 in a criminal complaint under the Espionage Act for unlawfully retaining national defense information.

The complaint alleges Perez-Lugones accessed a classified report about an unnamed foreign country, captured a screenshot and printed it. He is also accused of viewing another report related to a government operational activity and taking notes on a yellow legal pad. During searches of his Laurel, Maryland, home and his car, agents reportedly found a document marked "secret" in a lunchbox and additional documents labeled "secret" in his basement.

Why the Search of a Reporter Matters

The decision to execute a search warrant at the home of a working journalist is rare and raises significant concerns about press freedom and the protection of confidential sources. News organizations and press-rights advocates often argue that such steps should be used only when there is a compelling, narrowly tailored need and when other investigative avenues have been exhausted.

Officials did not explain publicly why investigators sought access to the reporter's home after the primary suspect in the leak had already been charged and detained. The Washington Post said it is actively reviewing the matter and monitoring developments. Natanson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Next Steps

A hearing in Perez-Lugones’s case was scheduled for Thursday in Baltimore. The investigation remains ongoing.