FBI Just Raids Home of Reporter Investigating Trump
In a move that has sent shockwaves through Washington’s press corps and civil liberties advocates, the FBI—under Director Kash Patel executed a search warrant at the Alexandria, Virginia, home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson on Wednesday.
Natanson, 29, is described by colleagues as the paper’s “federal government whisperer,” known for her deep sourcing within federal agencies and ongoing coverage of President Donald Trump’s reshaping of the bureaucracy.
According to the Post, agents seized multiple devices from Natanson’s home: a phone, a Garmin watch, two laptops, her personal computer, and one belonging to the Jeff Bezos-owned newspaper. The raid occurred while Natanson was present, and agents reportedly examined her devices on site.
The Washington Post reported that the search followed the newspaper’s investigation into “a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified government materials.” Crucially, the paper stated that Natanson was informed she was not the target of the investigation.
Trending: Gamblers Accuse Karoline Leavitt of ‘Insider Trading’ After Abrupt Stage Exit
Official Statements from DOJ and FBI
Attorney General Pam Bondi quickly confirmed the raid in a post on X, stating the action was prompted by the Defense Department and executed by the Department of Justice and the FBI.
Bondi wrote: “The leaker is currently behind bars. 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 followed with his own statement on X: “This morning the @FBI and partners executed a search warrant of an individual at the Washington Post who was found to allegedly be obtaining and reporting classified, sensitive military information from a government contractor—endangering our warfighters and compromising America’s national security. The alleged leaker was arrested this week and is in custody. As this is an ongoing investigation, we will have no further comment.”
An FBI affidavit obtained by media outlets identified the primary target as Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a Maryland-based systems administrator with top-secret clearance.
The affidavit alleges Perez-Lugones improperly accessed classified intelligence reports, removed them from secure facilities, and stored them in his lunchbox and basement.
Natanson’s reporting has focused on Trump’s sweeping changes to the federal government, including mass firings, policy reversals, and the transformation of multiple agencies. Her work has drawn from deep sources inside the bureaucracy—many of whom have expressed alarm at the speed and scope of the changes.
On Christmas Eve 2025, Natanson published a first-person account of the pressures she faces. She described her fiancé urging her to stop answering late-night calls and texts from federal workers desperate to share how Trump was “rewriting their workplace policies, firing their colleagues or transforming their agency’s missions.” She quoted her fiancé saying: “You’ve got to stop. Stop answering them.”
The raid has raised immediate concerns about press freedom. Critics argue that seizing a reporter’s devices—even when she is not the target risks chilling protected newsgathering and source relationships. Media organizations and press freedom groups have called for transparency and safeguards to prevent future incidents.
The Washington Post has stated it is reviewing the situation and considering legal options to protect its reporting.
Did You Know?:Jack Smith, Who Claimed He Found Dirt on Trump, Is Now Set to Give Live Testimony in Major Reversal
Trump’s History with the Washington Post
The raid occurs against a backdrop of long-standing animosity between Trump and The Washington Post. Before his 2024 reelection, Trump repeatedly warned the paper to “clean up their act.”
In March 2025, however, he praised Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ changes to the Post after its opinion section shifted toward “free markets and personal liberties,” and the paper declined to endorse Kamala Harris in October 2024.
Despite the brief thaw, the Post has continued aggressive coverage of the second Trump administration, including Natanson’s reporting on federal restructuring.
The search of a working journalist’s home—particularly one covering sensitive government actions has prompted immediate alarm from press freedom organizations. The Committee to Protect Journalists and others have called for an explanation of why a reporter’s devices were seized when she was explicitly told she was not the target.
Legal experts note that while search warrants can be executed on journalists under narrow circumstances (with heightened scrutiny under DOJ guidelines), the seizure of devices raises significant First Amendment concerns.
TOP STORIES
- ICE Detains Wife of Staunch MAGA Supporter Who Donated Almost All His Net Income to Trump Campaign
- Mike Johnson Now Begs His Own Base to Save Trump from Impeachment: ‘Absolute Chaos’
- Trump’s New ‘Decay’ Photos Send MAGA Base Into Public Denial: ‘He’s in Better Shape Than Most’
The raid on Natanson’s home has become a flashpoint in the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and the press as the investigation into the alleged leaker continues.
Whether it leads to new guidelines, legal challenges, or further deterioration of relations remains to be seen—but for now, it has sent a clear message: even reporters who are not targets can become collateral in federal investigations.
The Washington Post has vowed to continue its coverage undeterred, while the broader journalism community watches closely to see whether this incident marks a new low in government-press relations.
Discover more from STITCH SNITCHES
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.