Overview
- Freedom of the Press Foundation filed a February 6 complaint with the Virginia State Bar targeting Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon D. Kromberg, who signed the warrant used to search reporter Hannah Natanson’s home.
- The complaint says the warrant application omitted the Privacy Protection Act of 1980, a law that limits searches for journalists’ work product and documentary materials.
- It argues the omission violates Virginia Rule of Professional Conduct 3.3 on candor to the tribunal and contends the failure to cite the statute was likely deliberate.
- The Washington Post said FBI agents searched Natanson’s home in January and seized her devices in a probe linked to contractor Aurelio Perez-Lugones, who is charged with unlawfully retaining national defense information.
- Seeking consequences up to disbarment, the group urged expedited action, and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.