He indicated the omission raised serious concerns and noted he had initially declined to approve the search request.Lawyers representing the Post said more than 1,200 confidential sources could be affected by the outcome, warning that the seizure had effectively allowed the government to “commandeer” the reporter’s professional life.The case comes at a difficult moment for the Washington Post, which is grappling with layoffs and leadership changes, including the recent resignation of publisher Will Lewis.The FBI searched Natanson’s Virginia home on January 14 as part of a Justice Department investigation into the alleged leak of classified Pentagon information. Authorities said the probe focuses on a defence contractor accused of illegally retaining sensitive national security documents.Attorney General Pam Bondi said the search was carried out at the Pentagon’s request to protect national security. She alleged the reporter had been in contact with the contractor, though officials stated Natanson herself was not the target of the criminal investigation.During the search, agents seized her work laptop, personal laptop, phone and watch, devices that potentially contain confidential reporting material and source identities.The Washington Post described the raid as “highly unusual and aggressive” and warned it could have a chilling effect on journalism. Press freedom organisations also criticised the move, calling it an unprecedented intrusion into newsgathering.The Justice Department had previously maintained policies limiting seizures of journalists’ records, but those protections were rolled back during the Trump administration, allowing broader investigative powers in leak cases.Hannah Natanson is a Washington Post reporter covering the federal government, with a focus on former President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal workforce and bureaucracy.She previously spent six years covering education and is a graduate of Harvard University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree.Natanson has earned several major journalism honours. She was part of the Washington Post team awarded the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for its coverage of the January 6 US Capitol attack.
