The Post reports that the House Judiciary Committee is protesting against CBS over the firing of veteran reporter Katherine Herridge, who investigated the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, and the subsequent seizure of her personal records. .
In a scathing letter sent Friday to CBS News President Ingrid Cyprian-Matthews and obtained exclusively by the Post, the committee’s chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan, said that the He called on the department to clarify who “made the decision.” “Quit” Herridge.
The committee said it also wanted to know why her confidential files were “seized” as part of her dismissal.
“CBS News’ unprecedented actions threaten to chill good journalism and ultimately undermine our nation’s commitment to a free press,” the letter said.
Mr. Herridge is at the center of a First Amendment case that has been closely watched by journalists across the country, as part of a massive purge of 800 employees at parent company Paramount Global. I was fired from my job.
A source told the Post on Thursday that the network had boxed up all of Ms. Herridge’s personal belongings, except for notes and files, and informed her that the network would decide what would be returned.
Mr. Jordan (R-Ohio) also requested a list of individuals who examined Mr. Herridge’s file and a list of documents and correspondence related to her papers.
The commission also charged Paramount Global, CBS, or CBS News with accessing confidential material, “viewing any of her confidential material, copying or retaining any of her confidential material, or It is also seeking information on individuals who “performed forensic examinations of her confidential materials.”
The committee gave Cyprian-Matthews a deadline of March 1, “no later than 5 p.m.”, to submit the information.
CBS News did not respond to a request for comment.
Mr. Herridge did not respond to requests for comment.
The investigation comes amid uproar among employees who were initially shocked that the network would expel a journalist and were equally surprised that her confidential files were retained after she was fired. I was disappointed.
“This is highly unusual,” said a person familiar with the situation, adding that the files now believed to belong to CBS News include confidential material from Herridge’s time at both Fox and CBS. It was pointed out that there is a high possibility that it is included.
As the paper previously reported, Herridge has faced obstacles from senior leadership over his coverage of Hunter Biden and was investigated in 2021 for favoritism and discriminatory hiring and management practices. He also clashed with Cyprian Matthews, a poisonous executive who was released.
“They never seize documents.” [when you’re let go]” said another source close to the network. “They want to know what harmful documents she has.”
On Thursday, a CBS spokesperson refuted claims that CBS plans to keep any classified information belonging to Herridge.
“We respected her request not to view her files, and due to concerns about confidential sources, the office she occupied has remained secure since her departure,” a representative told the Post. told.
“We are ready to immediately pack up the remaining files on her behalf. Her representative will also be present if she wishes.”
Officials say the CBS action is a violation of Herridge’s First Amendment lawsuit because Herridge’s documents may include privileged conversations she had with lawyers and the identities of sources. There were concerns that this could have an impact on the
Herridge is accused of failing to comply with U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper’s order to reveal how he learned of a federal investigation into a Chinese-American scientist who ran a graduate program in Virginia. is bathed in
The journalist could soon be held in contempt of court for failing to reveal the sources of an investigative article he wrote in 2017 while working for Fox News.
As a result, Mr. Herridge could be ordered to personally pay fines totaling as much as $5,000 per day.
Officials said there were concerns that CBS could be subpoenaed to reveal the identity of its sources, which could threaten press freedom principles.
SAG-AFTRA, the union representing CBS employees, accused the station of seizing Herridge’s notes and research from her office late Thursday.
“This action is of great concern to the union because it sets a dangerous precedent for all media professionals and threatens the very foundations of the First Amendment,” the union said in a statement to the Post. Stated.
The union added that it has been in contact with CBS News and expects the matter to be “resolved soon.”
