US appeals court rejects Catherine Herridge’s bid – Business News
A US appeals court rejected journalist Catherine Herridge’s request to throw out a contempt order towards her after the previous Fox News and CBS News reporter refused to reveal confidential sources who leaked details about a Chinese-American scientist.
Last yr, Herridge was held in contempt of court and fined $800 a day by a federal choose after she refused to reveal the title of the one who leaked her details about Yanping Chen.
In 2017, Herridge authored a sequence of tales that have been printed by Fox News about Chen, together with her previous navy service in China’s People’s Liberation Army previous to her emigrating to the United States more than 4 many years in the past.
A US appeals court rejected journalist Catherine Herridge’s request to throw out a contempt order towards her. Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images / Shutterstock
Herridge’s reporting additionally revealed that Chen was as soon as subjected to FBI questioning over previous alleged misstatements associated to her immigration kinds in addition to particulars about her work with the Chinese space program.
As half of its counterintelligence investigation that spanned six yr, the FBI performed a search of Chen’s home. Chen, who has denied insinuations that she spied for China, was by no means charged with a crime.
In 2018, Chen filed swimsuit towards the FBI, claiming that the federal company leaked particulars of the probe to Herridge and Fox News with the intention to harm her fame.
Chen’s attorneys deposed dozens of witnesses as half of their lawsuit, although they nonetheless couldn’t verify the identification of the leaker — prompting Chen to subpoena Herridge and Fox News.
US District Judge Christopher Cooper held Herridge in contempt of court final yr after she refused to reveal her sources.
“The Court does not reach this result lightly,” Cooper wrote in his February 2024 resolution.
“It recognizes the paramount importance of a free press in our society and the critical role that confidential sources play in the work of investigative journalists like Herridge.”
In 2017, Herridge authored a sequence of tales that have been printed by Fox News about a Chinese-American scientist who was the subject of a counterintelligence investigation. Fox News
“Yet the Court also has its own role to play in upholding the law and safeguarding judicial authority.”
Herridge appealed the choice to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, which handed down its resolution upholding the contempt order on Tuesday.
The Post has sought remark from Herridge and Chen.
Freedom of the Press Foundation, a pro-First Amendment nonprofit, mentioned in a assertion that Tuesday’s resolution “is a significant blow to press freedom for all journalists.”
Fox News mentioned “forcing a journalist to reveal a source not only threatens press freedom but chills investigative reporting that holds the powerful accountable, which is the very foundation of our democracy.”
Yanping Chen served within the Chinese navy earlier than emigrating to the US more than 4 many years in the past. Yanping Chen / Linkedin
Herridge’s lawyer, Pat Philbin, added that she “remains committed to protecting reporters’ First Amendment rights and confidential sources.”
Herridge, a veteran investigative journalist, has been on the heart of a number of high-profile controversies during her profession.
After being laid off by CBS News in February of final yr, she accused the community of improperly seizing her confidential recordsdata, which contained delicate materials from her CBS and Fox reporting.
Herridge’s investigative work on Hunter Biden and corruption allegations towards Democratic officers additionally fueled pressure inside CBS, the place she reportedly confronted editorial pushback.
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Former colleagues cited favoritism and discriminatory management practices as components that hindered her reporting.
“Dr. Chen is pleased with the court’s decision,” Chen’s legal professional, Andy Phillips, advised The Post.
“Two federal courts have now agreed that Catherine Herridge has no privilege to continue to shield the identity of a federal official who broke the law and leaked protected materials to Ms. Herridge.”
Phillips added in his assertion that “Dr. Chen looks forward to continuing to pursue redress for the government’s egregious violation of her rights.”
