Carol D. Leonnig

Washington, D.C.

National investigative reporter focused on the White House and government accountability

Education: Bryn Mawr College

Carol Leonnig is an investigative reporter, four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of three best-selling books who has worked at The Washington Post since 2000. Her reporting revealed broad misconduct and security failures within the Secret Service that put presidents’ lives in danger, winning Leonnig the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting in 2015. She was part of Washington Post teams that won the Pulitzer in 2017 for coverage of the Russian interference in the presidential election and the Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for documenting the NSA's secret and broad spying on innocent Ame
Latest from Carol D. Leonnig

If Trump is convicted, Secret Service protection may be obstacle to imprisonment

Trump can keep Secret Service protection for life, even if he were to be convicted and sentenced to prison or home confinement.

August 4, 2023
Secret Service and Palm Beach police are seen in front of the Florida home of former president Donald Trump.

Before Jan. 6, Mark Meadows joked about Trump’s election claims

In a late 2020 text message that has been obtained by federal prosecutors, Meadows wrote that his son, Atlanta-area lawyer Blake Meadows, had been probing possible fraud and had found only a handful of possible votes cast in dead voters names, far short of what Trump was alleging.

July 24, 2023
Mark Meadows, former president Donald Trump's chief of staff, joked about Trump's claims of a stolen election in a text message that has been seen by federal prosecutors, people familiar with the investigation said.

After fitful starts, Trump Jan. 6 investigations hurtle toward charges

Local, state and federal prosecutors are all signaling decisive action in cases that have been building quietly for years

July 19, 2023
Former president Donald Trump in Philadelphia last month. (Hannah Beier for The Washington Post.)

Secret Service closes White House cocaine probe without suspect

The Secret Service has closed a White House cocaine probe without suspects, after DNA and fingerprint tests were inconclusive and surveillance video provided no leads.

July 13, 2023
A recent view of the West Wing of the White House.

FBI resisted opening probe into Trump’s role in Jan. 6 for more than a year

In the DOJ’s investigation of Jan. 6, key Justice officials also quashed an early plan for a task force focused on people in Trump’s orbit.

June 20, 2023

Takeaways from The Post’s examination of DOJ’s Jan. 6 investigation

More than a year elapsed from Jan. 6 before DOJ began actively probing key actions by Trump and those around him to steal the election. Here's why:

June 19, 2023

With Trump indicted, officials prepare for a tempest: His court appearance

Law enforcement officials are preparing for how to handle Trump's court appearance in Miami, along with any protests that might ensue.

June 9, 2023

Democratic lawmakers seek resignation of Homeland Security watchdog

Democratic lawmakers called for Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari's resignation because he didn't preserve text messages from his iPhone.

June 8, 2023
Joseph V. Cuffari, the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general, testifies before a House panel Tuesday.

Prosecutors have recording of Trump discussing sensitive Iran document

Special counsel Jack Smith has obtained a 2021 recording in which former president Donald Trump appears to say he has a classified document about Iran, according to people familiar with the matter.

May 31, 2023
Former president Donald Trump arrives April 4 for his court appearance in New York,

Intrusion at national security adviser’s home under investigation

An intruder entered the home of national security adviser Jake Sullivan in middle of night without Secret Service being aware, a breach now under investigation.

May 16, 2023
National security adviser Jake Sullivan briefs reporters at the White House last month.