Bondi: Pentagon Contractor Accused of Leaking to WaPo To Remain Jailed-l
A federal judge ordered a Pentagon contractor accused of unlawfully retaining classified national defense information to remain in federal custody Thursday, days after the FBI executed a search warrant at the Virginia home of a Washington Post reporter as part of the same investigation.
Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones, a systems engineer with top-secret clearance, was arrested last week on criminal charges alleging he took classified documents — including material involving foreign national security matters — from his workplace and stored them at his residence in Maryland. Prosecutors have said the conduct poses a threat to national security.
At a hearing in Baltimore, U.S. District Chief Judge George Levi Russell III agreed to keep Perez-Lugones, a former U.S. Navy service member and an IT specialist, jailed pending further proceedings after defense counsel acknowledged they were not prepared to proceed. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
“The leaker has been found and is in jail right now — and that’s the leaker on Venezuela. A very bad leaker,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday.
Federal agents also executed a search warrant Jan. 14 at the home of Washington Post journalist Hannah Natanson in suburban Alexandria, Va., seizing electronic devices and other property, according to statements from the Justice Department and the newspaper. The search was part of the broader probe into the classified materials.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the warrant was issued at the request of the Department of Defense and related to investigative efforts to identify the source of unauthorized disclosures of sensitive information. She said the leaker identified in the investigation is in custody but did not specify whether Natanson’s devices contained classified material.
“The Trump Administration will not tolerate illegal leaks of classified information that, when reported, pose a grave risk to our Nation’s national security and the brave men and women who are serving our country,” she said this week, per the New York Post.
Federal prosecutors sought to keep Perez-Lugones locked up because he “poses a danger to the community,” the complaint said.
“The Defendant has held a security clearance for over 25 years and the Government cannot ensure the safety of the country and US military personnel without detention,” prosecutors wrote in their Jan. 13 filing.
“Only detention would provide the government a way to monitor whether the Defendant uses any of his knowledge to threaten national security,” the filing added.
Earlier, a magistrate judge had crafted terms for the suspect’s conditional release.
As a systems engineer at a government contractor in Maryland, Perez-Lugones possesses a top-secret security clearance. According to an FBI special agent’s affidavit included with the complaint, he allegedly printed screenshots of a classified intelligence report concerning a foreign country on October 28, 2025.
The government contractor also took notes on a yellow legal pad that he stashed in a black bag and took home between Jan. 5 and 7, alleged the affidavit.
The Post said Natanson — who covers federal government operations — has not been charged with a crime and was informed that neither she nor the newspaper is a target of the investigation. Executive Editor Matt Murray described the raid as “extraordinary” and raised concerns about its implications for press freedom.
In a statement following the search of Natanson’s residence, Washington Post publisher Will Lewis released this statement: “Hannah is one of our finest reporters, who works tirelessly to inform our readers about what is actually happening in government.”
Press freedom groups and journalists have criticized the search as a potential threat to First Amendment protections, arguing that such actions could deter sources from providing information. Federal law generally restricts searches of journalists’ work materials absent evidence the journalist has committed a crime.
The case follows broader changes in Justice Department policies governing leak investigations, including the administration’s withdrawal of prior limits on seizing reporters’ communications during such probes.
Rep. Ilhan Omar Intensifies Criticism of Federal Immigration Enforcement
Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota sharply escalated her criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations on Monday, accusing federal agents of treating Minneapolis as an occupying force and again calling for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s resignation or impeachment.
In remarks to constituents in Minneapolis, Omar repeatedly described the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal officers in the city as an inappropriate use of government authority, saying the situation has created fear among local residents. Omar said Minneapolis is “currently under occupation” and cited concerns about schools, hospitals and daily life as evidence of what she called harmful federal intervention.
“We do not exaggerate when we say we have schools where two-thirds of the students are afraid to go to school,” Omar said. “We do not exaggerate when we say we have people who are afraid to go to the hospital because our hospitals have occupying paramilitary forces.”
Omar referenced two recent fatalities during federal immigration operations in Minneapolis — the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good — and argued those incidents underscored the need for new leadership at DHS. In her remarks, she blamed senior White House advisers for shaping the administration’s immigration policies.
“When we say it is time for Kristi Noem to go, we mean it now,” Omar added. “And there needs to be accountability for the architect of the terror we are facing in Minneapolis and so many other cities, which is Stephen Miller.”
Omar’s comments follow an appearance on MSNBC’s All In with Chris Hayes, where she reiterated those positions and broadened her critique to include senior administration officials. In that interview, she said Noem should resign or face impeachment, echoing earlier statements from House Democratic leadership. Omar also repeated criticism of Miller, a senior White House adviser on immigration policy, calling him a “copycat of the Nazis” and suggesting he should be prosecuted.
Her remarks also tied national Republican rhetoric on immigration to broader social tensions, asserting that aggressive enforcement language has “created anger” that can lead to confrontations with Somali immigrants and other community members in Minnesota.
Omar’s public criticism comes amid the ongoing federal immigration operation known as Operation Metro Surge. Federal agents have been deployed to Minneapolis to apprehend illegal immigrants with criminal convictions, drawing protests and heightened scrutiny from local officials and advocacy groups.
Democratic lawmakers, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), have called for increased oversight of DHS and ICE policies as part of broader negotiations over long-term funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Jeffries has publicly stated that Noem should be impeached if she does not resign, and Schumer has called for additional conditions on immigration enforcement in appropriations legislation.
In response to increased political pressure, DHS has taken steps to increase transparency in its operations. Earlier this week, Secretary Kristi Noem announced that body-worn cameras will be issued to all federal immigration enforcement officers deployed in Minneapolis as an immediate measure, with plans to expand the program nationwide as funding becomes available. “Effective immediately we are deploying body cameras to every officer in the field in Minneapolis,” Noem wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Federal officials have said that some Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers present during the Jan. 24 shooting of Pretti were already equipped with body cameras, though full footage has not been released. Officials have not yet clarified whether ICE officers were wearing cameras during the earlier fatal encounter involving Good.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz responded to Noem’s announcement by saying body cameras should have been in place prior to the deaths of Pretti and Good, who were tragically killed while interfering with ICE law enforcement operations.
20 Minutes ago in Arizona, Savannah Guthrie was confirmed as… See more
Just 20 minutes ago in Arizona, Savannah Guthrie was confirmed as the focus of a rapidly developing update that has already begun to ripple across newsrooms and social media.
While early headlines sparked confusion and speculation, sources close to the situation emphasized that the confirmation centers on a professional development rather than the alarming rumors that briefly circulated online.
The speed at which the news broke—paired with Guthrie’s high public profile—helped fuel the immediate surge of attention, with viewers eager for clarity and context.
According to initial reports, the confirmation came during a tightly scheduled appearance in Arizona, where Guthrie has been involved in ongoing media commitments.
Attendees described a composed and focused presence, noting that the announcement was handled with care and precision. Industry insiders say the timing underscores how quickly information now travels, especially when it involves trusted faces in broadcast journalism.
Within minutes, clips, quotes, and partial summaries began trending, amplifying both interest and misunderstanding.
What stands out most is the response from colleagues and longtime viewers. Messages of support and curiosity poured in, reflecting the connection Guthrie has built over years of consistent reporting and calm authority during major national moments.
Analysts suggest that the public reaction speaks less to the announcement itself and more to the trust audiences place in familiar voices—when news breaks about them, it feels personal. That trust has kept the conversation largely measured, even as speculation continues.
As details continue to emerge, media observers caution against jumping to conclusions based on incomplete information. Full context is expected to be clarified through official channels shortly, and until then, reputable sources urge patience.
One thing is clear: when news involves a figure as recognizable as Savannah Guthrie, even a brief confirmation can command national attention in minutes. Stay tuned as this story develops and the full picture comes into focus.
