Judge Blocks FBI From Accessing Devices Seized From WaPo Reporter

A federal magistrate judge has temporarily blocked the FBI from examining electronic devices seized from a Washington Post reporter, pausing the government’s review while the court weighs the legality of the search and the scope of protections afforded to journalists under federal law.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Porter issued the order this week after The Washington Post and reporter Hannah Natanson petitioned the court to prevent federal investigators from accessing the contents of the seized devices. The ruling maintains the status quo as the court evaluates whether the search violated First Amendment safeguards and Justice Department rules governing investigations involving members of the press.

The FBI conducted the search on January 14 at Natanson’s Virginia residence, seizing multiple phones, laptops, recording equipment, a hard drive, and a smartwatch as part of a broader criminal investigation tied to a Pentagon contractor accused of mishandling sensitive national defense information.

“The outrageous seizure of our reporter’s confidential newsgathering materials chills speech, cripples reporting, and inflicts irreparable harm every day the government keeps its hands on these materials. We have asked the court to order the immediate return of all seized materials and prevent their use. Anything less would license future newsroom raids and normalize censorship by search warrant,” a Washington Post spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Federal prosecutors allege the contractor, Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a Maryland-based system administrator holding a top secret security clearance, unlawfully removed classified and sensitive defense documents and improperly stored them at a private residence. Investigators believe Perez-Lugones may have shared or attempted to share information outside authorized government channels, prompting a wider inquiry into possible unauthorized disclosures.

Natanson, who according to her X bio covers “the Trump administration’s reshaping of the government and its effects,” wrote a personal piece last month titled, “I am The Post’s ‘federal government whisperer.’ It’s been brutal,” describing the pressures of communicating with government employees and the personal toll of receiving thousands of messages related to her reporting.

Authorities have not accused Natanson of any criminal wrongdoing. Instead, investigators sought her devices in an effort to trace the flow of information connected to the contractor and to determine whether classified material may have been electronically accessed or transmitted.

In court filings, The Washington Post argued that allowing federal agents to review a reporter’s work devices risks exposing confidential sources, internal newsroom communications, and unpublished reporting, raising serious concerns about press freedom and long-standing newsgathering protections. The paper is asking the court to order the return of the seized property and to bar its use in the investigation.

Judge Porter has scheduled a hearing for early next month and directed the government to formally respond to the newspaper’s motion. Until further action by the court, federal authorities are prohibited from accessing or analyzing the seized materials.

The case has drawn scrutiny from media organizations and civil liberties advocates, who argue it highlights unresolved tensions between national security investigations and the constitutional limits on federal power when journalists and source confidentiality are involved.

The investigation into Perez-Lugones remains ongoing, and federal officials have not indicated whether additional charges or arrests are forthcoming.

Previous reporting has suggested that Perez-Lugones may have leaked information related to the U.S. raid in Venezuela to detain now-deposed President Nicolas Maduro. Those reports claimed details of the operation were leaked to the Washington Post and the New York Times hours before the raid, but that both outlets opted not to publish the information to avoid jeopardizing U.S. forces.

Maduro has since appeared in federal court in New York City, where he pleaded not guilty to charges including drug trafficking.