Federal Judge Curbs DOJ Power, Safeguarding Press Freedom and Reporter's Data

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Porter decided that the court, not the government, will review the devices seized from Natanson's home in January as part of an FBI investigation into leaked classified information. The judge cited concerns about protecting journalistic work product and confidential sources, likening a government search to "leaving the government's fox in charge of the Washington Post's henhouse." The ruling was welcomed by The Washington Post and press freedom groups, who had raised alarms about the search.

The judge also noted the government's failure to adequately address the Privacy Protection Act, which safeguards journalists' work product, in its warrant application, significantly undermining his confidence in the government's disclosures. This case is part of a broader trend of the Trump administration targeting the press.