US Judge Blocks Government Review of Seized Washington Post Materials

A federal judge has granted a request from The Washington Post to prevent the US government from reviewing materials seized from reporter Hannah Natanson. Magistrate Judge William Porter issued a temporary order on Wednesday, which prohibits the Justice Department from accessing the seized materials until a hearing can be held on February 6.

The Post had sought the return of its reporter’s personal devices and work materials, citing concerns over her First Amendment rights and the potential impact on journalism. Natanson is not currently under investigation by the federal government.

In January, the US Department of Justice executed a search warrant at Natanson’s home, resulting in the seizure of several electronic devices, including her computer, cellphone, and voice recorder. The Justice Department had argued that the search was necessary to collect information related to Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones, a government contractor who was arrested on January 8 for allegedly removing classified documents.

The Post has filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department seeking the return of the seized materials, arguing that many of the devices contain confidential sources and unpublished newsgathering materials. The court filing states that the six devices seized contained over 30,000 emails from Natanson’s journalism career.

A statement from The Washington Post notes that the seizure of its reporter’s materials “chills speech, cripples reporting, and inflicts irreparable harm every day the government keeps its hands on these materials.” The newspaper is seeking the immediate return of all seized materials and a court order to prevent their use.

Source: Al Jazeera