opinion
CBS has come under fire for seizing the files, computers and records of famed investigative journalist Katherine Herridge.
Herridge, a veteran reporter covering national security and intelligence, was fired from CBS News earlier this month, a surprising victim of layoffs at the network given her award-winning ability to deliver breaking news and scoops.
According to the New York Post, the reporter was investigating the Hunter Biden laptop scandal before she was fired and “encountered roadblocks from higher-ups.”
In addition to the laptop investigation, Herridge has been covering the House impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, special counsel Robert Hohr's report into his handling of classified documents, and the criminal charges against the first son.
The former Fox News journalist is also in the midst of a First Amendment lawsuit, protecting the identity of a source used in a report written in 2017 regarding a Chinese American scientist who was investigated by the FBI but has not been accused of wrongdoing. .
Herridge faces fines of up to $5,000 per day if she refuses to give an interview under oath in the case, a situation that critics have described as an attack on the principles of a free press.
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Herridge has the materials seized
Jonathan Turley, a legal scholar and former CBS analyst, wrote an op-ed column describing the situation Herridge is currently in.
Citing confidential sources from current and former employees of the network, Turley explains that the seizure of a reporter's materials led to unrest at CBS headquarters.
“The timing of Herridge’s termination immediately raised suspicions in Washington,” Hurley wrote. “She was following stories that were not welcomed by the Biden White House and many Democratic forces.”
What happened next should send chills down the backs of journalists who work at or are considering working at CBS.
“The network obtained Herridge’s notes and files and advised her that it would decide what, if anything, would be turned over to it.” The files likely contain classified material from her stints at Fox and CBS.
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A shocking effort at intimidation
Turley described the seizure of Herridge's materials as “absolutely shocking”, noting that “journalists are generally allowed to leave their files” when parting ways with a media company.
It's not just Turley who is making accusations. The CBS labor union, SAG-AFTRA, also accused the company of confiscating its banknotes.
The union said in a public statement that it “strongly condemns CBS News' decision to seize reporter Kathryn Herridge's notes and research from her desk, including confidential source information.”
They describe CBS's actions as setting a “dangerous precedent for all media professionals and threatening the foundation of the First Amendment.”
Herridge has yet to make a statement on the matter, though she shared SAG-AFTRA statements in what appears to be a nod to their claims in the affirmative.
CBS News denied the allegations and told the Daily Mail that it plans to return the material to its recently departed correspondent.
A spokesperson for the network said: “Katherine's personal belongings were delivered to her home a week ago, and we are prepared to immediately pack the rest of her files on her behalf – with her representative attending as requested.”
This appears to be a deliberate admission that her materials are still in her office and have been for at least a week. However, there was no need to worry, as CBS promised that no one had reviewed its files and the office remained inaccessible.
The spokesman said: “We respected her request not to view the files, and because of our concern for confidential sources, the office she occupied has remained secure since her departure.”
However, Turley's sources convey a sense of fear and dread regarding the actions taken by CBS during this time.
One former CBS journalist asserts that he had “never seen records seized from a departing journalist,” and that the move sent a “chilling signal” through the ranks of CBS.
This controversy serves as a reminder of the importance of journalistic integrity and the need to protect the rights of reporters to pursue their work without fear of retaliation. CBS appears to have ignored this principle.
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