The FBI searched the Virginia home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson early Wednesday in what the newspaper described as an unusually aggressive law enforcement action, drawing sharp criticism from press freedom advocates.
Agents arrived without notice, searched her home, and seized electronic devices as part of an investigation into a Pentagon contractor accused of improperly retaining classified materials, though Natanson was told she was not a suspect.
Post executive editor Matt Murray said the raid raised serious concerns about constitutional protections for journalists, while former editor Marty Baron called it an alarming sign of hostility toward an independent press. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the search was conducted at the Pentagon’s request, arguing that the administration would not tolerate illegal leaks that threaten national security.
Press freedom organisations condemned the raid as an invasive escalation that could chill reporting and endanger confidential sources. The incident comes amid growing tensions between the Washington Post and the Trump administration, which critics say is increasingly aggressive toward the media.
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