The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: The Trials of the Trump Administration, Jan. 16
Jan 19, 2026
Molly Roberts, a Senior Editor at Lawfare known for her insights on media and press freedom, joins fellow editors Michael Feinberg, Roger Parloff, and Anna Bower. They unravel the complexities of the FBI's search of a journalist related to alleged leaks, discussing the implications for press freedom under the Espionage Act. The conversation dives into state lawsuits over immigration enforcement and the political ramifications surrounding investigations of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, making for a riveting examination of current legal battles.
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Reporter Search Tied To Contractor Leak Case
- Hannah Natanson's devices were seized in a leak probe connected to an indicted contractor accused of taking screenshots from a classified system.
- The search aims primarily to build the leaker case, though broader motives are possible given administration rhetoric.
Risk Of New Leak Enforcement Posture
- Prosecuting journalists under secondary Espionage Act provisions is rare and legally fraught but possible in theory.
- Current actions may reflect an intent to prioritize leak enforcement over historical prudential restraint.
Searches Of Journalists Remain Exceptional
- Searching a journalist's home for leak evidence is highly uncommon since post-Watergate reforms and prompts strong pushback from press and former officials.
- Such actions would have stunned many past leak investigators and DOJ officials.