By Micah Jonah
January 23, 2026
The United States Department of Justice has filed criminal charges against a contractor accused of illegally sharing classified military information with a Washington Post journalist, prompting a rare raid on the reporter’s home.
Aurelio Perez-Lugones, 61, allegedly took classified documents from his government contractor workplace and passed them to the reporter, who cited the material in published news articles. The grand jury indictment charges him with unlawfully transmitting and retaining classified information, a crime that carries a possible prison term of up to ten years.
The investigation drew attention after FBI agents raided the home of reporter Hannah Natanson last week. Press freedom advocates criticized the move as an unprecedented threat to journalistic independence. A federal judge subsequently blocked prosecutors from accessing the material seized during the raid. The Post confirmed that Natanson is not considered a target of the probe.
Under previous policies, US law generally restricts authorities from seizing records from journalists. The Justice Department’s latest actions mark a controversial exception under the Trump administration, raising concerns about press freedoms and government overreach.
Lawyers for Perez-Lugones have not responded to requests for comment. The case remains under close scrutiny as legal experts, media groups, and civil rights advocates weigh the implications for journalism and national security in the United States.
