CBS reporter Catherine Herridge is currently facing contempt charges for her refusal to reveal the identity of her confidential source.
Back in August, US District Court Judge Christopher Cooper ordered Herridge to participate in a sworn deposition regarding a confidential source she had used for her coverage of a 2017 story at Fox News. This story concerned a Department of Defense-funded school that was under federal investigation due to its ties with the Chinese military.
The judge’s order required Herridge to disclose her source(s) in response to a lawsuit filed by Chinese-American scientist Yanping Chen against the FBI. Chen had subpoenaed Herridge in an attempt to identify her sources.
Herridge argued that she should not be compelled to reveal her source, invoking her First Amendment rights.
Judge Cooper, who was appointed by Barack Obama, held a differing view and compelled Herridge to reveal her source.
“The Court recognizes both the vital importance of a free press and the critical role that confidential sources play in the work of investigative journalists like Herridge,” Cooper wrote in his August ruling. “But applying the binding case law of this Circuit, the Court concludes that Chen’s need for the requested evidence overcomes Herridge’s qualified First Amendment privilege in this case.”
Herridge refused to disclose her source during the deposition, and as reported by The Epoch Times, she now faces contempt charges, potentially leading to jail time.
NEW: CBS News reporter Catherine Herridge is facing a contempt charge and potential jail time for refusing to reveal a confidential source.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 29, 2023
In August, Herridge was ordered to reveal her source who gave information relating to an FBI investigation involving a Chinese American… pic.twitter.com/q4ZZqpJxfn
“With contempt proceedings now teed up, one of two outcomes appears likely: either Herridge will be held in contempt in the near future and can immediately appeal that order, or, as sometimes occurs in these cases, the sources may release Herridge from the privilege rather than watch her undergo the consequences of contempt,” Judge Cooper wrote in an order on Friday.
From The Epoch Times:
A reporter who was with Fox News when she reported on information provided by a confidential source is facing a contempt charge because she’s refusing to reveal the source’s identity despite a court order that she do so.Catherine Herridge, who is now a reporter for CBS News, was ordered in August to disclose the identity and motive of the source, who provided information about an FBI investigation into a Chinese American scientist.
But Ms. Herridge, during a deposition after the order was handed down, “refused to answer questions regarding the identity of her confidential source(s) and other aspects of her reporting process and editorial decision-making,” lawyers for Yanping Chen, the scientist, said in a recent filing.
They asked the court to hold Ms. Herridge in contempt, a criminal charge that can bring jail time.U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who issued the order, said on Oct. 27 that Ms. Herridge would likely be held in contempt unless she provides the information.
