Judge says Justice Department may not search Washington Post reporter's seized devices

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Porter ruled Tuesday that the Justice Department cannot search devices seized from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson, prohibiting federal investigators from accessing or examining any of the reporter's seized data amid an ongoing federal investigation. The judge's order represents a significant victory for press freedom, explicitly stating that the government could not 'open, access, review, or otherwise examine any of' the seized materials. The case has drawn attention to the delicate balance between law enforcement needs and First Amendment protections for journalists. The Justice Department had seized Natanson's devices as part of an investigation, though the specific nature of that probe remains unclear. The ruling comes amid growing concerns about the government's use of subpoenas and seizures to obtain journalists' records and communications, practices that press advocates argue can chill newsgathering and intimidate reporters from pursuing stories of public interest.