
Judge curbs DOJ access to journalist's devices in leak probe
A federal magistrate in Virginia ruled the Justice Department may not search the contents of devices seized from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson as part of a leaked-classified-documents probe, saying allowing a broad review would resemble an unlawful general warrant. The court will conduct the filtering itself to isolate material tied to the case, citing concerns about Natanson’s work product and First Amendment protections. Natanson is not believed to be a target, and the ruling follows a home raid linked to a contractor charged in the leak case, highlighting tensions between leak investigations and press freedom.