Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, initiated an inquiry into CBS News’ seizure of Senior Investigative Correspondent Catherine Herridge’s personal files following her dismissal. The Emmy winning journalist, prior termination, was a one of the journalists working on the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, which resulted in a First Amendment legal dispute.
“The unprecedented actions of CBS News threaten to chill good journalism and ultimately weaken our nation’s commitment to a free press,” said Jordan in a letter addressing Ingrid Ciprián-Matthews, president of CBS News.
Jordan requested that Ciprián-Matthews submit the following information: a briefing of the CBS employees who were responsible for Herridge’s termination and the decision to seize her confidential materials, all documents and communications who had access to the confidential materials following her termination, and all documents and communications of persons who accessed the confidential materials, reviewed the confidential materials, copied or retained any of the confidential materials, or conducted any forensic examination of the confidential materials. CBS must submit all these materials by no later than 5 pm on March 1, 2024.
SAG-AFTRA, which represents on-air talent, condemns CBS decision to seize Herridge’s reporter notes and research from her office, which includes confidential source information.
“This action is deeply concerning to the union because it sets a dangerous precedent for all media professionals and threatens the very foundation of the First Amendment. It is completely inappropriate for an employer to lay off a reporter and take the very unusual step of retaining and searching the reporter’s files, inclusive of confidential source identification and information,” said SAG-AFTRA’s statement. “From a First Amendment standpoint, a media corporation with a commitment to journalism calling a reporter’s research and confidential source reporting “proprietary information” is both shocking and absurd.”
Herridge has made no statement regarding her being terminated from CBS, except for reposting SAG-AFTRA statement.
“The retention of a media professional’s reporting materials by their former employer is a serious break with traditional practices which supports the immediate return of reporting materials. We urge CBS to return this material to Catherine in support of the most basic of First Amendment principles,” said SAG-AFTRA’s statement.
Catherine Herridge Senior Investigative Correspondent. Covering national security + intel.
