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The Washington Post has criticized the FBI’s raid on a reporter’s home as part of an investigation tied to the alleged leaking of classified information by a Pentagon contractor.

Getting into it: The raid, which targeted Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, was conducted early Wednesday morning at her home in Virginia. Federal agents from the FBI executed a search warrant and seized multiple electronic devices, including her personal laptop, a Post-issued work laptop, her cellphone, and a Garmin watch. The Department of Justice stated that the search was conducted as part of an investigation into a government contractor suspected of unlawfully retaining and leaking classified materials.

The alleged leaker, identified as Aurelio Perez-Lugones, is a former Navy veteran and systems engineer with top-secret clearance who worked for a Pentagon contractor in Maryland. According to an FBI affidavit, Perez-Lugones printed out sensitive intelligence reports, took notes on other classified materials, and stored some of these documents in his basement and inside a lunchbox found in his vehicle. At the time of his arrest, officials said he had been in communication with Natanson and that classified content was discovered within their message exchanges.

Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the arrest in a social media post, writing: “The Department of Justice and FBI executed a search warrant at the home of a Washington Post journalist who was obtaining and reporting classified and illegally leaked information from a Pentagon contractor… The leaker is currently behind bars.”

The Washington Post has responded to the raid, denouncing it as an infringement on press freedom and constitutional protections. Executive Editor Matt Murray called it an “extraordinary, aggressive action” that “raises profound questions and concern around the constitutional protections for our work.” In an internal message to staff, he added, “The entire institution stands by those freedoms and our work. We have been in close touch with Hannah, with authorities, and with legal counsel and will keep you updated as we learn more.”

This development comes as the Trump administration has defended the operation as a necessary response to threats against national security. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump had “zero tolerance” for leaks and would “aggressively crack down” on them.