Catherine Herridge was fired as a CBS employee during a mass dismissal of hundreds of employees.
Her excellent reporting attracted most of the attention. Her dismissal occurred just after her reporting for Hur Report. CBS also seized Herridge’s computer, records, and files. Herridge’s “privileged” sources were among those seized.
Jonathan Turley is a professor of law at the George Washington University.
Herridge’s dismissal was timely and sparked suspicions in Washington. Herridge had been covering stories that weren’t welcomed by the Biden White House, or many Democratic powerhouses. Herridge covered stories such as the Hur Report, which questioned Joe Biden’s mental capacity, and the Biden corruption scandal.
Turley, Brit Hume, and Turley said they’d never heard of anything like it.
Catherine Herridge published an update on SAG-AFTRA’s website. This includes broadcast journalists, actors, and other media professionals. They criticized CBS’s actions in a public statement and demanded CBS return her files and records. It was stated that CBS made progress, and they hoped that the issue would soon be resolved.
Important update via @sagaftra https://t.co/4LAYhnpil5
— Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) February 22, 2024
— Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) February 22, 2024
SAG AFTRA condemns CBS News’s seizure of confidential information from Catherine Herridge’s office, including source notes. This action is concerning to the union because it sets a precedent that is unfavorable for media professionals and threatens First Amendment protection.
It is absurd for a media corporation to call a reporter’s confidential sources and research proprietary.
It is not acceptable for a former employer of a journalist to keep their materials. It is unacceptable for a former employer to retain a journalist’s materials.
SAG AFTRA deserves praise for standing up to this woman.
The horse may have already left the barn. Herridge would receive the information, but some information might be missing. What if Herridge didn’t get all of the information? All journalists should worry about this, even if Herridge does.
Many people condemned CBS’s actions and offered Herridge their support.
Congress should subpoena CBS News executives about this https://t.co/iY0KDLNVZ5
— CommodoreBTC 🍊 (@CommodoreBTC) February 23, 2024
Whoa, what story are they trying to silence? https://t.co/w01mBRa0xU
— Trailduster6bt🇦🇹 (@trailduster6bt) February 23, 2024