FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Kathleen Floyd, Comms, WBNG — kfloyd@wbng.org, (202) 734-7830
On Wednesday FBI agents searched a Washington Post reporter’s home and seized several of her devices during an investigation into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified government materials, according to the Washington Post.
Hannah Natanson, the reporter who covers the federal workforce, and a member of the Washington-Baltimore News Guild was at her home in Virginia at the time of the search. The Washington Post Guild, which represents Hannah, released the following statement:
“The Washington Post Guild is alarmed and appalled by federal law enforcement’s search and seizure of reporter Hannah Natanson’s property and personal devices,” the Post Guild said in a statement. “Hannah is a valued member of our union whose work covering the federal workforce has been essential in understanding the impact of the Trump administration’s policies. The extraordinary decision to execute a search warrant at a journalist’s home should shock and dismay everyone who cares about a free and independent press. The Post Guild stands with Hannah, and will continue to fight for our members’ safety and independence so that they can continue their critical work.”
“Journalists have the right to do their jobs without fear of government interference,” said NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss. “Today’s FBI raid on a journalist’s home is a direct assault on the First Amendment and a threat to every working journalist. Our union strongly condemns the actions by the FBI who seized property and information by one of our members covering the federal workforce. The NewsGuild-CWA stands with all journalists holding power to account and will continue to fight for a free and independent press.”
The latest seizure of a reporter’s property comes after the Trump administration has undermined press freedom over the last year.
The NewsGuild-CWA has joined two lawsuits against the Department of Homeland Security after agents assaulted journalists and peaceful protestors. A federal judge enjoined DHS agents in a September ruling blocking DHS from brutalizing journalists, legal observers and protestors.
###
About The NewsGuild-CWA
The NewsGuild-CWA is the largest union of journalists and media workers in North America, representing about 27,000 workers at about 500 different workplaces. The Guild, through its local union, the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, represents journalists and other workers at the Washington Post.