The FBI has raided the home of a prominent journalist as part of an investigation into the illegal retention of classified government materials.
A search warrant was carried out on the Virginia home of Washington Post journalist Hannah Natanson on Wednesday (Thursday morning AEDT), with FBI agents seizing several devices, including phones and laptops.
Natanson is based in Washington, D.C. and is covering President Donald Trump's reshaping of the government and its effects on the United States.
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She has not been accused of any wrongdoing and was not the focus of the probe, according to the Washington Post.
In an email to staff, executive editor Matt Murray said the actions were an "extraordinary, aggressive action".
"[It is] deeply concerning and raises profound questions and concern around the constitutional protections for our work," he said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed Natanson had received classified information leaked by a Pentagon insider, and said the raid was requested by the Department of War, headed by Pete Hegseth.
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"The leaker is currently behind bars," she said in a statement on social media.
"I am proud to work alongside Secretary Hegseth on this effort.
"The Trump Administration will not tolerate illegal leaks of classified information that, when reported, pose a grave risk to our Nation's national security and the brave men and women who are serving our country."
According to the Washington Post, the alleged leaker is Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a system administrator who has a top-secret security clearance.
An FBI affidavit accuses him of accessing and taking home classified intelligence reports from secure government facilities that were later found in his lunch box and his basement.
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Trump appeared to address Perez-Lugones' arrest in an Oval Office meeting, calling him a "very bad leaker" and they would be in prison for an extended period of time.
"The leaker has been found, and is in jail right now," he said.
"There could be some others that we are looking at, and we are hot on their trail."
The Washington Post claims it was issued with a subpoena seeking information surrounding Perez-Lugones and asked the company to hand over communications between him and other employees.
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