A federal grand jury has indicted a Pentagon contractor accused of leaking classified national defense information to a journalist—a case that has now expanded into a broader debate over press freedom after federal agents searched a Washington Post reporter’s home and seized electronic devices.
According to court filings, Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones, a longtime government contractor with top-secret clearance, is charged with unlawfully transmitting and retaining classified information. Prosecutors allege Perez-Lugones removed sensitive documents from secure government facilities, took them home, and shared the material with a reporter who was not authorized to receive it. The indictment includes multiple counts tied to the alleged disclosures and retention of classified materials. Perez-Lugones remains jailed as the case proceeds.
The investigation escalated when federal authorities executed a search warrant at the home of a Washington Post reporter connected to the reporting. Agents reportedly seized phones and other electronic devices as part of the leak probe. The move has drawn sharp criticism from press advocates, who warn that such actions risk chilling investigative journalism—particularly when reporters are pulled into criminal investigations aimed at government leakers.
The Washington Post has formally requested the return of the seized materials, arguing that confiscating journalists’ work product and communications undermines First Amendment protections and threatens confidential sourcing. Editors maintain that reporters should not become collateral damage in leak investigations when they are not accused of any wrongdoing.
The Justice Department has defended its actions by emphasizing the seriousness of the alleged offenses, arguing that unauthorized disclosures of classified defense information can endanger national security and military personnel. Officials insist the case remains focused on the alleged leaker, not the act of reporting, and that all investigative steps were conducted lawfully.
The episode highlights a growing tension in Washington over how leak investigations are handled when journalists are involved. Critics on the right have long argued that enforcement appears uneven and politically selective, while supporters of aggressive prosecution contend national security demands firm action. With a reporter’s home search now central to the case, scrutiny of the DOJ’s policies and safeguards surrounding press-related investigations is likely to intensify as the legal process continues.