US judge bars government from reviewing seized Washington Post materials

A US judge has temporarily barred the government from reviewing materials seized from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson. The order, granted on Wednesday by Magistrate Judge William Porter, pauses the Justice Department's access until a February 6 hearing, allowing them to respond to the Post's complaint. The Post argues the seizure violates Natanson's First Amendment rights and threatens journalism. On January 14, the Trump administration executed a search warrant on Natanson's home, seizing her work computer, phone, and other electronics. While Natanson is not under investigation, the Justice Department claims the warrant was necessary to gather information on Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones, a government contractor arrested for allegedly removing classified documents. The Post contends the seized materials contain confidential sources and unpublished newsgathering information unrelated to the warrant.

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