Dana Priest

Washington, D.C.

Investigative reporter

Education: University of California at Santa Cruz, BA in politics

In her 30 years at The Washington Post, Dana Priest has covered the Pentagon, intelligence agencies, Russian disinformation operations and veterans issues, among other matters. She has won two Pulitzer Prizes, for reporting on the neglectful conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (2008) and the CIA's secret prisons (2006) and other counterterrorism operations. She is the author of two best-selling books, “The Mission: Waging War and Keeping Peace with America’s Military” (2003) and “Top Secret America: The Rise of the National Security State.” She is also the Knight Chair in Public
Latest from Dana Priest

Khashoggi’s widow wins political asylum in the United States

The decision may be the final act in the twisted drama of Jamal Khashoggi’s assassination by a Saudi hit squad in Turkey.

December 21, 2023

The nation’s capital, built on water, struggles to keep from drowning

Washington, D.C., is awash in water. It was built on fill and its natural waterways, long buried, are coming back to life.

December 19, 2023

Khashoggi’s widow sues Israeli firm over spyware she says ruined her life

Hanan Elatr says Saudi Arabia used NSO’s Pegasus spyware to track her and her husband’s whereabouts before he was murdered.

June 16, 2023

A UAE agency put Pegasus spyware on phone of Jamal Khashoggi’s wife months before his murder, new forensics show

The new analysis challenges NSO claims that the murdered journalist's wife, Hanan Elatr, 'was not a target'

December 21, 2021

Chief of WhatsApp, which sued NSO over alleged hacking of its product, disputes firm’s denials on scope of, involvement in spyware operations

The head of WhatsApp disputes NSO Group's denials on the company's scope of and involvement in spyware operations.

July 24, 2021

Proyecto Pegasus: Cómo hackearon teléfonos de periodistas y activistas en el mundo

El 'spyware' de NSO Group, vendido a gobiernos de todo el mundo, puede infectar teléfonos sin un solo clic. Proyecto Pegasus es la investigación sobre el hackeo a teléfonos de periodistas y activistas de todo el mundo así como a políticos y funcionarios gubernamentales.

July 21, 2021

    Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones of journalists, activists worldwide

    Military-grade spyware licensed by an Israeli firm to governments for tracking terrorists and criminals was used in attempted and successful hacks of 37 smartphones belonging to journalists, human rights activists, business executives and two women close to murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to an investigation by The Washington Post and 16 media partners.

    July 18, 2021

      Jamal Khashoggi’s wife targeted with spyware before his death

      NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware was used to secretly target the smartphones of the two women closest to murdered Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi, according to digital forensic analysis.

      July 18, 2021

        Invisible surveillance: How spyware is secretly hacking smartphones

        An investigation by a consortium of media organizations found Israeli firm NSO Group's Pegasus spyware was used to hack smartphones of journalists and others.

        July 18, 2021

        Hanan Elatr, Egyptian woman who married Jamal Khashoggi, obtains signed Islamic marriage certificate

        An imam who presided over the marriage ceremony had long refused to sign the certificate but agreed to this month to end a lawsuit.

        June 28, 2021