“Unprecedented” and “Outrageous”: Reporter Investigating Hunter Biden Laptop Has Files Seized

A recent development has occurred concerning the First Amendment case of former CBS reporter Catherine Herridge.

It was reported earlier today that Herridge’s personal files have been confiscated by her former employer, CBS News.

REPORT: After firing investigative reporter Catherine Herridge who was investigating the Hunter Biden laptop story, CBS reportedly seized her belongings.

Nothing to see here.

The network reportedly seized all of her belongings including files, computers and most importantly,… pic.twitter.com/oLFIlZwsOA

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 22, 2024

Catherine Herridge was investigating the Hunter Biden laptop story, and it seems she dug too deep.

And someone took notice.

It didn’t take people long to see right through this blatantly partisan move.

Wonder why? pic.twitter.com/coh6hSVa6E

— John's Memes (@Johnmc42069) February 22, 2024

It’s disappearing rapidly. pic.twitter.com/TENUBvQs7U

— TXIND1836⭐️ (@txind1836) February 22, 2024

Of course they did…… DOJ/Biden Family are involved without a doubt at this point…

There is no other reason why this would happen and yet democrats think Biden is innocent 🙄

— Mickamious (@MickamiousG) February 22, 2024

Some simply expressed their distaste for MSM and the never-ending narratives they push.

The mainstream media stinks pic.twitter.com/8e86xzvIWA

— Mr. Bigglesworth 𝕏 (@Twitermytweet) February 22, 2024

CBS is a cesspool

MSM is de-d

— Eliza Johnson (@elizjohns13) February 22, 2024

The Blaze reported earlier on this news:

CBS News is facing accusations that it seized computers, files, and records — “including information on privileged sources” — that belong to reporter Catherine Herridge.

Last week, CBS News terminated Herridge’s employment as part of a layoff impacting fewer than two dozen employees at CBS News. Her surprise termination sent shockwaves through Washington because Herridge is a respected, award-winning journalist with a storied career. She is seen as a bastion of “old school” journalism, covering major topics the legacy media often ignores.

So how could she end up on the chopping block?

But the story doesn’t end there. According to law professor Jonathan Turley, who spoke with sources at CBS News, executives did something “unusual” after handing Herridge her pink slip.

“CBS officials took the unusual step of seizing her files, computers and records, including information on privileged sources,” Turley wrote in a new essay.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The network grabbed Herridge’s notes and files and informed her that it would decide what, if anything, would be turned over to her,” he explained. “The files likely contain confidential material from both her stints at Fox and CBS. Those records, it suggests, are presumptively the property of CBS News.”

If true, it’s a strange departure from routine practices for laid off employees — and “nothing short of shocking,” Turley added.

The New York Post has more on this story:

“It’s so extraordinary,” a source familiar with the situation told The Post, noting that the files — which are presumptively now the property of CBS News — most likely contain confidential material from Herridge’s stints at both Fox and CBS.

The source said the network boxed up all her personal belongings except for Herridge’s notes and files and informed her that it would decide what — if anything — would be returned to her.

“They never seize documents [when you’re let go],” a second source close to the network said. “They want to see what damaging documents she has.”

A CBS spokesperson pushed back on claims that the network plans to keep any sensitive information belonging to Herridge.

“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,” the rep told The Post.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We are prepared to pack up the rest of her files immediately on her behalf – with her representative present as she requested.”

Sources feared the network’s actions could have an impact on Herridge’s First Amendment case because her documents may contain privileged conversations she had with her lawyers or the identities of sources.

Herridge is under fire for not complying with US District Judge Christopher Cooper’s order to reveal how she learned about a federal probe into a Chinese American scientist who operated a graduate program in Virginia.

The journalist may soon be held in contempt of court for not divulging her source for an investigative piece she penned in 2017 when she worked for Fox News.