Catherine Herridge, a veteran investigative journalist previously with CBS Information, accused the community of committing “journalistic rape” after they seized her recordsdata after her firing in February.
“I was locked out of my emails and I was locked out of the office. CBS News seized hundreds of pages of my reporting files including confidential source information,” Herridge mentioned throughout a Home Judiciary Committee listening to on Thursday.
“When the network of Walter Cronkite seizes your reporting files, including confidential source information, that is an attack on investigative journalism.”
The Political Insider reported that CBS had seized Herridge’s recordsdata, computer systems, and information. The community although, vowed no person would undergo them and that the paperwork had been locked safely in her workplace.
The firing of Herridge and the best way that it was dealt with, to not point out the timing, initially raised eyebrows, as she had been investigating a facet of the Hunter Biden laptop computer scandal on the time.
JUST IN: Reporter Catherine Herridge testifies that CBS Information locked her out of the constructing and seized all her recordsdata, says she was working with sources to “expose government corruption.”
Nothing in any respect happening right here, people.
“CBS Information’ resolution to grab my reporting information… pic.twitter.com/XDuQEjyHcd
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 11, 2024
RELATED: Investigative Journalist Catherine Herridge, Who Had Recordsdata Taken By CBS, Held In Contempt
Catherine Herridge Hammers CBS
The testimony by Catherine Herridge exposing CBS Information was nothing wanting damning.
Along with the laptop computer investigation, the award-winning reporter had been masking the Home impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, particular counsel Robert Hur’s report on his dealing with of labeled paperwork, and felony expenses in opposition to Hunter Biden.
“I can only speak for myself. When my records were seized, I felt it was a journalistic rape,” she acknowledged.
Herridge’s firing itself was fairly a shock to the general public. She was a shock casualty of the community’s layoffs regardless of an award-winning means to supply breaking information and insider scoops.
The community subsequently seizing her supplies, nevertheless, was nothing wanting alarming. The ramifications, in response to Herridge, had been far-reaching.
“CBS News’ decision to seize my reporting records crossed a red line that I believe should never be crossed by any media organization,” the Emmy Award-winner testified.
“Multiple sources said they were concerned that by working with me to expose government corruption and misconduct they would be identified and exposed.”
RELATED: CBS Information Chief Behind Firing Of Catherine Herridge To Obtain Free Speech Award
CBS Denies Something Out Of The Peculiar
Regardless of Catherine Herridge’s repeated accusations that the community seized her recordsdata, CBS maintains they did nothing out of the atypical.
The New York Publish reviews on the community’s declare that “no one had rifled through the files and that they were eventually locked inside Herridge’s former office in Washington, DC, before being returned.”
President of CBS Information Ingrid Ciprián-Matthews, who was concerned within the firing of Catherine Herridge, later acquired a First Modification Award from the RTDNA Basis.
Earlier this 12 months, Herridge was held in civil contempt by a federal decide for refusing to disclose her supply for a collection of tales revealed in 2017.
U.S. District Choose Christopher Cooper imposed vital fines till Herridge complies. She is being pressured to disclose the identification of a supply used for a report written that 12 months relating to a Chinese language American scientist who was investigated by the FBI however by no means charged with wrongdoing.
The case, in addition to CBS Information firing and dealing with of her recordsdata, has vital First Modification implications.
Now could be the time to assist and share the sources you belief.
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