Catherine Herridge, a seasoned investigative journalist with CBS News, provided testimony to a House Judiciary subcommittee on Thursday regarding press liberties and the imperative of enacting the Press Act into law.
“As you know, in February, I was held in contempt of court for refusing to disclose my confidential sources on a national security story. I think my current situation can help put the importance of the Press Act into context. One of our children recently asked me if I would go to jail, if we would lose our house, and if we would lose our family savings,” Herridge said.
In the past year, Herridge faced two significant events. Firstly, she was held in contempt of court by a civil judge due to her refusal to disclose her sources in a defamation action.
Secondly, she was laid off from CBS News as a result of company-wide reductions.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper has ordered Herridge to pay a fine of $800 a day unless she discloses the sources within the government who informed her about an investigation into a Chinese-American scientist.
The scientist is currently seeking compensation through a lawsuit.
She proceeded to vehemently criticize CBS News for their handling of her termination.
“When I was laid off in February, an incident reinforced in my mind the importance of protecting confidential sources. CBS News locked me out of the building and seized hundreds of pages of my reporting files, including confidential source information. Multiple sources said they were concerned that by working with me to expose government corruption and misconduct, they would be identified and exposed. I pushed back and with the public support of my union, SAG-AFTRA, the records were returned.” she continued.
Regarding why she was let go from the network, Herridge remarked that “there was tension over the Hunter Biden reporting and the Biden reporting but I can’t say for sure why I was let go.”
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