A federal judge in Virginia has declined to immediately order the return of devices seized from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson during an FBI raid on her home, but expressed deep concern over the implications for press freedom and confidential sources.
US magistrate judge William B Porter, presiding in the eastern district of Virginia, said Natanson had effectively been cut off from her professional work since federal agents confiscated two laptops, a mobile phone and a Garmin watch in the January search.
“Ms Natanson has basically been deprived of her life’s work,” the judge observed during a hearing.
Porter also suggested he was wary of allowing federal investigators unrestricted access to journalistic materials, noting that public confidence could suffer if the government reviewed protected reporting information.
He has already temporarily barred prosecutors from examining the seized files and scheduled a follow-up hearing on March 4.
Lawyers for the Washington Post argued the continued retention of Natanson’s devices was causing serious professional and personal harm and posed broader risks to press freedom.
They urged the court to either return the devices or ensure any review of materials was conducted independently, rather than by a government “filter team.”
Government lawyers countered that the seized material could be relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation into a Pentagon contractor accused of unlawfully retaining classified national defence information.
In a tense exchange, Porter questioned prosecutors for not highlighting protections under the Privacy Protection Act, a federal law designed to limit searches targeting journalists, when they sought the warrant.
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.
About FBI raid
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.
Who is Hannah Natanson
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. She also received a George Foster Peabody Award in 2024 for work on a podcast series examining school gun violence.
In addition, she has been recognised by organisations including the Education Writers Association, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Poynter Institute.
In a first-person article published last year, Natanson described the intense pressure of covering sweeping federal workforce changes, writing about the large volume of confidential calls and messages she received from government employees affected by policy shifts.
The Washington Post has stated Natanson is not accused of wrongdoing and was present during the search of her home.
