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From the New York Post: Fired CBS News reporter Catherine Herridge posted photos of the confidential files seized by the network — which “included sensitive reporting about COVID-19 origins and Hunter Biden.”
The award-winning investigative journalist — who was dismissed last February as part of wider layoffs by embattled parent company Paramount Global — stirred up a firestorm in her bid to regain the materials before the network gave back the items weeks later.
Herridge testified and discussed being held in contempt of court for refusing to disclose confidential sources related to a national security story.
Her materials were returned after pressure from the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the union that represents some 160,000 media professionals and actors.
In a post on X last week, Herridge shared photos and wrote:
Exactly one year ago, @CBSNews returned my investigative reporting files. Today, I am releasing photos of the records for the first time so you can see the sheer volume involved. Four large moving boxes, weighing over 100 lbs in total.
@SAGAFTRA immediately stood up for journalism when CBS News executives seized my reporting files, including confidential source information, after my job as a senior investigative correspondent was terminated, citing cost cutting.
At the time, a Paramount lawyer pushed back, insisting “CBS acted to secure and protect the material in Ms. Herridge’s office.” The lawyer went further arguing the files were run of the mill work product.
My records included sensitive reporting about COVID-19 origins, Hunter Biden, and Trump Mar-A-Lago documents among others.
In April, I testified before Congress that the seizure of my reporting files was a “journalistic rape” and an attack on investigative journalism.
Without SAG-AFTRA, my files would never have been returned. Thank you, SAG-AFTRA for standing up for free speech and a free press.
Thank you @JonathanTurley whose reporting informed the public discussion and scrutiny of CBS News’ actions.
I hope no investigative reporter has to suffer a similar injustice in the future.
Exactly one year ago, @CBSNews returned my investigative reporting files.
Today, I am releasing photos of the records for the first time so you can see the sheer volume involved.
Four large moving boxes, weighing over 100 lbs in total. @SAGAFTRA immediately stood up for… pic.twitter.com/AQHYpr6ZBd
— Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) February 26, 2025
Thank you @nypost
From my 2024 congressional testimony –
“If confidential sources are not protected, I believe investigative journalism is dead.”
“When I was laid off…@CBSNews
locked me out of the building and held hundreds of pages of my reporting files, including… pic.twitter.com/Lp8P0LjW5o— Catherine Herridge (@C__Herridge) February 27, 2025
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