Washington Post says FBI searched reporter's home in classified documents probe

The FBI searched Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s devices and seized a phone and a Garmin watch at her Virginia home, the newspaper said

Published: January 14, 2026 10:15am

The Washington Post on Wednesday said that the FBI searched the home of a reporter for the newspaper in a classified documents probe of a government contractor.

The FBI searched Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s devices and seized a phone and a Garmin watch at her Virginia home, the newspaper said, according to The Associated Press.

The search was related to an investigation into a system administrator in Maryland who authorities allege took home classified reports, per an affidavit. The system administrator, Aurelio Perez-Lugones, was charged earlier this month with unlawful retention of national defense information, according to court filings.

Natanson covers the Trump administration’s transformation of the federal government.

An FBI spokesperson declined to comment to the AP on Wednesday, while Justice Department officials and a Post spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. The AP also attempted to contact Perez-Lugones’ lawyer for comment.

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