Sunday, January 25, 2026-A Pentagon contractor has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of leaking classified national defense information to a Washington Post journalist, drawing renewed attention to tensions between national security enforcement and press freedom.
Prosecutors charged Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones, a 61-year-old contractor with top-secret clearance, with six felony counts, including unlawfully transmitting and retaining classified information. He was arrested earlier this month and remains in custody.
Investigators allege Perez-Lugones removed sensitive documents from a secure workplace without authorization and shared them with a Washington Post reporter, material that was later used in multiple published articles.
Authorities say communications recovered during the investigation show coordination with the journalist regarding the information, and additional classified materials were found during searches of his home and vehicle.
The case has intensified scrutiny after federal agents executed a search warrant at the reporter’s Virginia home and seized electronic devices. A federal judge has temporarily blocked prosecutors from reviewing the seized materials while the court considers a request for their return.
The proceedings underscore ongoing legal and public debate over the balance between protecting classified information and safeguarding journalists’ ability to gather news and protect sources.
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