{"id":2546526,"date":"2026-01-21T14:15:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T19:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/washington-post-demands-fbi-returns-electronics-seized-during-raid\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T14:17:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T19:17:37","slug":"washington-post-demands-fbi-returns-electronics-seized-during-raid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/washington-post-demands-fbi-returns-electronics-seized-during-raid\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington Post demands FBI returns electronics seized during raid"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwashington-post-demands-fbi-returns-electronics-seized-during-raid%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2546526&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Washington Post filed a court motion demanding the return of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-seizes-nyc-mayor-eric-adamss-phones\/\" title=\"FBI Seizes NYC Mayor Eric Adams&#039;s Phones\">electronic devices seized<\/a> by the FBI from reporter Hannah Natanson during a Jan. 14 search of her Virginia home. Agents took two phones, two laptops, a recorder, a portable hard drive, and a Garmin watch &#8211; items the paper says are unrelated to the warrant and contain years of confidential newsgathering materials. The Post&#8217;s attorneys argued the seizure amounted to sweeping overreach that chills speech, cripples reporting and causes irreparable harm; they say the government refused both to return the devices and to refrain from reviewing their contents. The raid was part of an investigation into Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a Maryland system administrator arrested for <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >allegedly retaining classified documents<\/a>, some marked &#8220;SECRET.&#8221; The Department of Justice maintains that neither Natanson nor the paper is a target.The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press condemned the search as a serious intrusion and a troubling form of &#8220;censorship by search warrant,&#8221; while Attorney general Pam Bondi defended the operation as necessary to prevent illegal leaks.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Washington Post demands FBI return electronics seized during raid on reporter&rsquo;s house<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2480114\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington-post\/\"><em>Washington Post<\/em><\/a>  filed a court motion Wednesday demanding that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/FBI\/\">federal authorities<\/a> return electronic devices <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\">seized<\/a> from a staff reporter earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p>FBI agents executed what the outlet characterized as a &ldquo;highly unusual and aggressive&rdquo; search warrant at the home of <em>Washington Post<\/em> reporter Hannah Natanson on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4418375\/fbi-searches-washington-post-reporters-home\/\">Jan. 14 <\/a>as part of an investigation into a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-searches-washington-post-reporters-home\/\" title=\"FBI searches Washington Post reporter&#039;s ...\">government contractor accused<\/a> of illegally retaining classified documents.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4427568\/judge-denies-massie-khanna-request-independent-monitor-release-epstein-files\/\">Federal judge denies Massie and Khanna&#8217;s request for &#8216;independent monitor&#8217; over release of Epstein files<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4427407\/ghislaine-maxwell-deposed-by-house-oversight-committee-epstein-inquiry\/\">Ghislaine Maxwell to be deposed by House Oversight Committee in Epstein inquiry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4426154\/crime-guns-taxes-democrats-seek-reshape-virginia-moments-after-power\/\">Crime, guns, and taxes: Democrats seek to reshape Virginia moments after taking power<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>During the raid at Natanson&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\">Virginia<\/a> home, agents took her two phones, two laptops, a recorder, a portable hard drive, and a Garmin watch. The outlet said in its filing that the materials seized were not relevant to the search warrant.<\/p>\n<p>The outlet&rsquo;s attorneys <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national-security\/2026\/01\/21\/washington-post-hannah-natanson-search-court-filing\/\">argued<\/a> that the government &ldquo;seized this proverbial haystack in an attempt to locate a needle,&rdquo; and said that the devices contain years&rsquo; worth of confidential news gathering materials unrelated to the government&rsquo;s investigation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Natanson covers federal workers and has had a hand in the outlet&rsquo;s most high-profile and sensitive reporting related to government filings, national security, and diplomacy during the second Trump administration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Federal officials and the outlet&rsquo;s lawyers met Tuesday, and the government rejected a request to return materials. The outlet&rsquo;s attorneys said the federal officials would not comply with a request to refrain from reviewing the materials until the matter was settled.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The outlet&rsquo;s statement described the retention of materials as an act that &ldquo;chills speech, cripples reporting and inflicts irreparable harm.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>While the Department of Justice maintains that neither Natanson nor the outlet is a target of the inquiry, the search was conducted as part of an investigation into Aurelio Perez-Lugones.<\/p>\n<p>Perez-Lugones is a Maryland system administrator with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/damning-new-details-emerge-in-ex-fbi-agents-role-in-shutting-down-hunter-biden-laptop-probe\/\" title=\"Damning New Details Emerge In Ex-FBI Agent\u2019s Role In Shutting Down Hunter Biden Laptop Probe\">top secret security clearance<\/a> and was arrested earlier this month for illegally retaining classified information.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Federal agents reported finding documents marked &ldquo;SECRET&rdquo; in his basement and inside his lunchbox.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AGPamBondi\/status\/2011456849711612019?s=20\">X post <\/a>at the time of the search that the operation was done alongside the Pentagon and War Secretary Pete Hegseth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4427290\/trump-zelensky-russia-envoys-travel-negotiations\/\"><strong>RUSSIA-UKRAINE PEACE EFFORTS REVIVED AS TRUMP MEETS WITH ZELENSKY AND DISPATCHES WITKOFF TO MOSCOW<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Trump Administration will not tolerate illegal leaks of classified information that, when reported, pose a grave risk to our Nation&rsquo;s national security and the brave men and women who are serving our country,&rdquo; Bondi said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rcfp.org\/fbi-raid-washington-post-explainer\/\">Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press <\/a>has condemned the raid as a &ldquo;tremendous intrusion&rdquo; and a dangerous normalization of &ldquo;censorship by search warrant.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WaPo seeks return of devices seized in reporter raid<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2546527,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26014523261292-e1768404983254.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50645,44205,71569,32293],"class_list":["post-2546526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-fbi-2","tag-press-freedom","tag-search-and-seizure","tag-washington-post"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26014523261292-e1768404983254.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2546526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2546526"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2546526\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2546530,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2546526\/revisions\/2546530"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2546527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2546526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2546526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2546526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}