SAG-AFTRA accuses CBS News of seizing files of fired journalist

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE SAG-AFTRA UNION IS ACCUSING CBS NEWS OF VIOLATING THE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF A LAID-OFF VETERAN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST.

EARLIER THIS MONTH – CBS NEWS’ PARENT COMPANY PARAMOUNT HANDED PINK SLIPS TO 800 EMPLOYEES.

CATHERINE HERRIDGE – A SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT WHO COVERED NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE – WAS ONE OF THEM.

HERRIDGE HAD BEEN COVERING STORIES FOR CBS NEWS RELATED TO INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS FAMILY.

MOST RECENTLY – HERRIDGE COVERED THE HOUSE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY INTO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND ALSO, HIS SON – HUNTER BIDEN’S LAPTOP AND CRIMINAL CHARGES.

[CBS NEWS]

“WELL MAJOR, WHAT SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT HUR CONCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION IS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WILLFULLY RETAINED CLASSIFIED INFORMATION” 

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AND NOW – THE UNION REPRESENTING ON-AIR TALENT AT CBS NEWS – SAG-AFTRA – IS ACCUSING THE NEWS ORGANIZATION OF SEIZING HERRIDGE’S REPORTER NOTES AND RESEARCH FROM HER OFFICE – INCLUDING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

SAG-AFTRA RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING IN PART…

“IT IS COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE FOR AN EMPLOYER TO LAY OFF A REPORTER AND TAKE THE VERY UNUSUAL STEP OF RETAINING AND SEARCHING THE REPORTER’S FILES, INCLUSIVE OF CONFIDENTIAL SOURCE IDENTIFICATION AND INFORMATION. FROM A FIRST AMENDMENT STANDPOINT, A MEDIA CORPORATION WITH A COMMITMENT TO JOURNALISM CALLING A REPORTER’S RESEARCH AND CONFIDENTIAL SOURCE REPORTING ‘PROPRIETARY INFORMATION’ IS BOTH SHOCKING AND ABSURD.”

HERRIDGE HAS NOT PUBLICLY COMMENTED ON THE SITUATION, HOWEVER, SHE DID REPOST SAG-AFTRA’S STATEMENT ON X.

JONATHAN TURLEY – A FORMER LEGAL ANALYST FOR CBS NEWS – FIRST BROKE THIS STORY – WRITING AN OPINION PIECE FOR THE HILL.

IN IT – HE WRITES “THE TIMING OF HERRIDGE’S TERMINATION IMMEDIATELY RAISED SUSPICIONS IN WASHINGTON” BECAUSE SHE “WAS PURSUING STORIES THAT WERE UNWELCOMED BY THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE AND MANY DEMOCRATIC POWERHOUSES.”

AND ACCORDING TO REPORTS BY THE NEW YORK POST

“HERRIDGE HAD ENCOUNTERED ROADBLOCKS FROM HIGHER-UPS OVER HER HUNTER BIDEN COVERAGE AND HAD ALSO CLASHED WITH CBS NEWS PRESIDENT INGRID-CIPRIAN MATTHEWS.”

IT IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR A NEWS COMPANY TO SEIZE A FORMER JOURNALIST’S FILES.

SAG-AFTRA SAYS IT’S “A SERIOUS BREAK WITH TRADITIONAL PRACTICES WHICH SUPPORTS THE IMMEDIATE RETURN OF REPORTING MATERIALS.”

CBS NEWS DENIES THE ALLEGATIONS.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE COMPANY RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING “CATHERINE’S PERSONAL BELONGINGS WERE DELIVERED TO HER HOME ONE WEEK AGO, AND WE ARE PREPARED TO PACK UP THE REST OF HER FILES IMMEDIATELY ON HER BEHALF – WITH HER REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT AS SHE REQUESTED. WE ARE AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM CATHERINE AND/OR HER REPRESENTATIVE TO DO SO. WE HAVE RESPECTED HER REQUEST TO NOT GO THROUGH THE FILES, AND OUT OF OUR CONCERN FOR CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES, THE OFFICE SHE OCCUPIED HAS REMAINED SECURE SINCE HER DEPARTURE.”

SAG-AFTRA SAYS THEY’RE HOPEFUL THE SITUATION WILL BE RESOLVED “SHORTLY.”