U.S. Contractor Accused of Mishandling Classified Intelligence Faces Up to 10-Year Prison Sentence
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia McLane stated at a detention hearing on Monday that Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a former U.S. Navy member with a top secret security clearance, told federal investigators he was upset over “recent government activity.” McLane also confirmed that Perez-Lugones admitted to mishandling classified information during his interrogation.
According to court documents filed January 9 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Perez-Lugones printed confidential documents he was not authorized to access and took home classified intelligence reports discovered in his lunchbox and basement. The complaint states: “Perez-Lugones had no need to know and was not authorized to search for, access, view, screenshot, or print any of this information.”
The government wrote to the court that Perez-Lugones poses a danger to the community and should remain in custody. It added that agents seized national defense documents from his car and home but noted: “The Government cannot seize everything in his head.”
Perez-Lugones, described as a longtime government contractor with a top secret security clearance, was messaging the journalist when federal agents executed his arrest. Investigators reportedly found classified material in the communications.
Federal authorities searched the residence of journalist Hannah Natanson, who covers the federal workforce, on Wednesday. Officials seized her phone and both work and personal laptops. Government officials stated they determined Natanson is not the focus of the probe.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the search occurred at the request of the Department of War, citing that the journalist had obtained and reported classified information illegally leaked by a Pentagon contractor. Bondi wrote on social media: “The leaker is currently behind bars. 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.”
