A new report claims CBS News seized the records, files, and computers of Catherine Herridge, a former investigative reporter for the network who was recently fired along with hundreds of employees by CBS’s parent company, Paramount Global. Herridge’s recent firing comes as the reporter was investigating stories such as the Hunter Biden laptop, Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on President Joe Biden’s memory issues, and other Biden family scandals.
In an opinion piece published Thursday for The Hill, Jonathan Turley, a George Washington Law School professor, claimed the timing of Herridge’s firing at CBS News was suspicious since the respected reporter was “pursuing stories that were unwelcomed by the Biden White House and many Democratic powerhouses.”
Turley explained that Herridge continued to investigate stories such as the Hunter Biden laptop and the special counsel’s report on the president’s mishandling of classified information despite facing “pushback” from top executives at CBS, such as CBS News President Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews.
READ MORE: Nearly 10,000 Hunter Biden laptop photos published online
Anonymous sources provided confirmation to The New York Post Thursday regarding reports that CBS News seized the reporter’s personal files, describing it as an “unprecedented” move by the company. While many of Herridge’s co-workers were shocked by the company’s recent decision to fire her, The New York Post reported that staff members have been even more shocked at the company’s decision to seize her personal files and work computer, which could include confidential information.
“It’s so extraordinary,” a source familiar with the issue told The New York Post. The anonymous source explained that the seized files most likely include confidential information Herridge obtained during her time with CBS News as well as from her previous time at Fox News.
“They never seize documents [when you’re let go],” another source told The New York Post. “They want to see what damaging documents she has.”
Following pushback against CBS over Turley’s allegations and the reports from multiple sources at the company, a CBS spokesperson told The New York Post that the network has “respected” Herridge’s request to “not go through the files.” The spokesperson claimed that the reporter’s former office has “remained secure” out of respect for any confidential sources. The spokesperson also said the company was willing to finish packing up Herridge’s files with a representative present to ensure confidentiality.
On Friday, Turley shared an update regarding the situation on X, formerly Twitter, writing, “I am hearing from CBS sources that the network is moving toward a resolution to turn over the files after the outcry. However, the concerns over Herridge’s termination and the network’s handling of her confidential notes continues to raise alarm in the journalistic community.”
