(WASHINGTON) – PEN America expressed alarm today over the FBI’s search of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson’s home, saying it “strikes at the heart of press freedom.” The Post reported that federal agents seized their reporter’s phone, two laptops and a Garmin watch as part of a probe into a government contractor accused of illegally retaining classified material.
“Targeting a reporter in their own home as part of a federal law enforcement action is an extraordinary escalation that strikes at the heart of press freedom. A government action this rare and aggressive signals a growing assault on independent reporting and undermines the First Amendment. It is intended to intimidate sources and chill journalists’ ability to gather news and hold the government accountable,” said Tim Richardson, journalism and disinformation program director at PEN America. “Such behavior is more commonly associated with authoritarian police states than democratic societies that recognize journalism’s essential role in informing the public. The Justice Department and the FBI must immediately provide a clear, public justification for why such an extreme measure was taken against a journalist, and Congress must provide proper oversight.”
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], (201) 247-5057