Pentagon Contractor Accused of Stashing Classified Intel at Maryland Home Remains Behind Bars
A US District Chief Judge has ruled that a Pentagon contractor, Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones, will remain behind bars until his case is resolved. Perez-Lugones, an IT specialist and former US Navy service member, was identified as the alleged leaker in a criminal complaint unsealed earlier this week.
The investigation into Perez-Lugones centered around allegations that he had taken classified intelligence, including sensitive materials about a foreign country, and hoarded them at his Maryland home. Agents from the FBI executed a search warrant on his residence on January 8, finding "multiple documents marked SECRET", according to the complaint filed by federal prosecutors.
Washington Post journalist Hannah Natanson's home in suburban Alexandria was also raided by the FBI as part of the investigation, with agents seizing her phone, personal laptop, work laptop, and Garmin watch. However, officials have not confirmed whether Perez-Lugones had leaked information to Natanson.
Perez-Lugones has been detained since his arrest, with prosecutors citing concerns that he poses a danger to the community due to his alleged retention of classified national defense information. His lawyers acknowledged that they were not prepared to move forward with the hearing, leading to the judge's decision to keep him behind bars.
The case raises questions about the government's efforts to prevent leaks and protect national security. In a statement, Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned "illegal leaks of classified information" and vowed to take action against those who pose a threat to national security.
Perez-Lugones' arrest has sparked controversy, with many arguing that journalists have a right to report on sensitive information. The Washington Post has defended Natanson's reporting, citing the paper's long history of standing up for journalists covering sensitive US defense information, as seen in its coverage of the Pentagon Papers about the Vietnam War.
As the case unfolds, Perez-Lugones' fate remains uncertain, with his lawyers facing an uphill battle to secure his release. The incident highlights the tension between national security concerns and the First Amendment rights of journalists to report on government actions.
A US District Chief Judge has ruled that a Pentagon contractor, Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones, will remain behind bars until his case is resolved. Perez-Lugones, an IT specialist and former US Navy service member, was identified as the alleged leaker in a criminal complaint unsealed earlier this week.
The investigation into Perez-Lugones centered around allegations that he had taken classified intelligence, including sensitive materials about a foreign country, and hoarded them at his Maryland home. Agents from the FBI executed a search warrant on his residence on January 8, finding "multiple documents marked SECRET", according to the complaint filed by federal prosecutors.
Washington Post journalist Hannah Natanson's home in suburban Alexandria was also raided by the FBI as part of the investigation, with agents seizing her phone, personal laptop, work laptop, and Garmin watch. However, officials have not confirmed whether Perez-Lugones had leaked information to Natanson.
Perez-Lugones has been detained since his arrest, with prosecutors citing concerns that he poses a danger to the community due to his alleged retention of classified national defense information. His lawyers acknowledged that they were not prepared to move forward with the hearing, leading to the judge's decision to keep him behind bars.
The case raises questions about the government's efforts to prevent leaks and protect national security. In a statement, Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned "illegal leaks of classified information" and vowed to take action against those who pose a threat to national security.
Perez-Lugones' arrest has sparked controversy, with many arguing that journalists have a right to report on sensitive information. The Washington Post has defended Natanson's reporting, citing the paper's long history of standing up for journalists covering sensitive US defense information, as seen in its coverage of the Pentagon Papers about the Vietnam War.
As the case unfolds, Perez-Lugones' fate remains uncertain, with his lawyers facing an uphill battle to secure his release. The incident highlights the tension between national security concerns and the First Amendment rights of journalists to report on government actions.
this is so crazy that a contractor can just stash classified intel at their home think about all the potential consequences 
and yeah I feel for Hannah Natanson her reporting is super important to keep us informed 
and it's a shame that people are getting treated like they're in danger over doing their job 
hope Perez-Lugones' lawyers can get him out of there soon 
just heard that this guy's been stuck behind bars for days because he allegedly has super sensitive info from a foreign country stashed at home... what if it is real? 
and now there's this journalist who got her life turned upside down too, just because she was doing her job... 
this whole thing is just a mess 
like a treasure trove! 
It's soooo serious 
and not funny 
But at the same time, I'm feeling bad for Natanson 
. The gov is always talking about national security 
but what about our right to know? 
Can't we just have a balanced view 
? 
I mean I know there are rules in place to protect national security but it seems kinda extreme to just throw someone in jail over this 
. And now the media is all over it too, like a journalist at The Washington Post got her house raided by the FBI... that's just scary 
for me, personally, I have sensitive info on my phone and laptop too 
. 
gotta go take a deep breath now 
- it's a really slippery slope when it comes to free speech and national security. As a journalist myself, I totally get why the Washington Post is defending Natanson's reporting, but at the same time, you've got to consider that Perez-Lugones allegedly took highly sensitive info into his own hands 
. It's like, where do you draw the line between investigative journalism and putting national security at risk? The government needs to find a way to balance those competing interests without unfairly targeting journalists or contractors who might just be trying to do their job 
And what's up with all these raids on journalists' homes? Is it really necessary to break into their personal spaces like that? 
It just feels like another overreach by the powers-that-be, if you ask me 
also, i feel bad 4 hannah natanson she got raided 2 
. Perez-Lugones' lawyers need 2 step up ther game if they wanna get him outta there ASAP 
.