A federal judge has prohibited the justice department from searching electronic devices it seized from a Washington Post reporter, ruling that the court will search the devices for documents related to a national security investigation itself. On 14 January, the FBI raided the home of Post reporter Hannah Natanson as part of an investigation into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified government materials. FBI agents seized Natanson’s phone, two laptops, a recorder, a portable hard drive and a Garmin watch. After the FBI raid, the Washington Post asked the court to order the devices returned, and Porter ordered the government not to immediately search Natanson’s devices until after a hearing. In Tuesday’s order, Judge Porter noted that an assistant United States attorney had applied for the warrant to search Natanson’s home in his court.

Source: Washington Post February 25, 2026 09:37 UTC