A second federal judge has barred the Justice Department from searching the digital devices of a Washington Post journalist, reinforcing legal protections that shield reporters from government intrusion into their sources and work product.
U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga issued the ruling on Monday, condemning the January seizure of reporter Hannah Natanson’s personal belongings. The government had taken two computers, a recorder, a Garmin watch, a phone, and a portable hard drive during a home raid tied to an investigation into an official accused of leaking classified material.
Natanson had been in contact with Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones, who was later arrested and indicted in Maryland on charges of unlawfully obtaining and sharing classified materials. Both the government and Natanson have acknowledged that the evidence on her phone is unlikely to be central to Perez-Lugones’ trial.
Trenga emphasized that Natanson’s devices are protected under the Privacy Protection Act of 1980, which prohibits government officials from searching for or seizing a journalist’s “work product” or “documentary materials” in connection with a criminal investigation. The judge also highlighted the broader implications of the seizure for press freedom.
“In any event, given the large volume of non-responsive documents among the Seized Material, the Court cannot ignore the seizure’s effect on Natanson’s ability to function as a journalist,” Trenga wrote in his order. “Nor can the Court ignore, whether intended or not, the harassing and chilling effects such a seizure could have on a reporter, particularly one focused on Executive Branch conduct and where the Government contends that ‘all of the [Seized Material] is presumptively relevant to the investigation at this point.’”
The ruling comes the same day the Post was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the Trump administration’s federal workforce reduction and government overhaul—work primarily led by Natanson, who covers the federal workforce. More than four months ago, she told the court and the government, “I need my devices back to do my job.”
Natanson thanked the Post staff and her sources on Monday for standing by her reporting. “I want you to know your trust is the highest honor I will ever receive,” she said in a speech to the newsroom after the Pulitzer announcement. “We at The Post are doing everything we can to protect it.”
This case echoes broader tensions between press freedoms and government investigations, as seen in other recent legal battles. For instance, a separate judge criticized harsh jail conditions for a suspect in the WHCA dinner shooting, underscoring judicial scrutiny of government actions. Meanwhile, a federal judge blocked Trump's termination of TPS for Yemeni nationals, as the Supreme Court weighs the limits of judicial authority. And a recent Pew poll found 56% of Americans believe federal ethics declined under Trump's second term, highlighting ongoing concerns about government accountability.
