Judge Slams Justice Department Over Reporter Search Warrant Abuse
During a hearing regarding a search warrant for Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s home, a federal judge expressed strong disapproval of the Justice Department’s failure to disclose the applicability of the Privacy Protection Act of 1980. The judge questioned how the department overlooked this law, which is designed to shield journalists from government searches unless they are subjects of criminal investigations. Despite the department’s arguments that the law was not applicable, the judge found their reasoning difficult to accept, emphasizing the significant impact the raid had on the reporter’s ability to continue her work. Ultimately, the judge is considering a request to return the seized devices and data, suggesting a potential “filter team” to review the information.
John Q. Hosedrinker