Fired CBS News reporter Catherine Herridge reveals photos of files on Hunter Biden, COVID origins seized by network: ‘Attack on investigative journalism’
- Story by Ariel Zilber NY Post
• 1h
Fired CBS News reporter Catherine Herridge posted photos of the confidential files seized by the network — which “included sensitive reporting about COVID-19 origins and Hunter Biden.”
The award-winning investigative journalist — who was dismissed last February as part of wider layoffs by embattled parent company Parent Global — stirred a firestorm in her bid to regain the materials before the network gave back the items weeks later.
“Exactly one year ago, @CBSNews returned my investigative reporting files,” Herridge wrote on X on Wednesday.
“Today, I am releasing photos of the records for the first time so you can see the sheer volume involved.”
One photo showed stacks of folders next to a Home Depot-labeled box.
Herridge wrote that the material encompassed four large moving boxes weighing over 100 pounds in total that were seized by the network.
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Herridge referred to CBS News’ actions as a “journalistic rape” and “an attack on investigative journalism.”
“I hope no investigative reporter has to suffer a similar injustice in the future,” she added.
A CBS News spokesperson declined to comment.
The incident led to a hearing last April by a House Judiciary subcommittee, titled “Fighting for a Free Press: Protecting Journalists and Their Sources.”
Herridge testified and discussed being held in contempt of court for refusing to disclose confidential sources related to a national security story.
Her materials were returned after pressure from the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the union that represents some 160,000 media professionals and actors.
Herridge praised SAG-AFTRA for standing up “for journalism when CBS News executives seized my reporting files…”
“At the time, a Paramount lawyer pushed back, insisting ‘CBS acted to secure and protect the material in Ms. Herridge’s office’,” wrote Herridge, who has since launched her own newsletter on the Substack platform.
Herridge, a seasoned investigative journalist who joined CBS News in 2019 after a lengthy stint at Fox News, faced significant challenges during her tenure at the Tiffany Network, particularly concerning her efforts to report on Hunter Biden’s laptop prior to the 2020 election.
In October 2020, Herridge uncovered materials from Hunter Biden’s laptop, including a million-dollar retainer from a Chinese energy firm and business communications involving Hunter Biden.
She presented this evidence to CBS News executives, including then-Senior Vice President Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews and then-“CBS Evening News” anchor Norah O’Donnell.
Her reporting was never aired.
Herridge expressed her dismay upon seeing “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl state that the laptop’s contents “couldn’t be verified” during an interview with then-President Donald Trump, noting: “As I watched the broadcast, I felt sick.”
It wasn’t until after the November 2022 midterm elections that CBS aired a forensic review of the laptop data, confirming its authenticity.
Herridge had advocated for earlier coverage, believing the story was ready before the elections, but network executives delayed the report.
CBS News has come under fire for its alleged media bias and editorial decision-making.
In October, “60 Minutes” aired an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris during which she was asked several questions about the Biden administration’s policies toward Israel.
The network released two separate clips previewing the “60 Minutes” broadcast which showed Harris giving two distinct answers. But the “60 Minutes” broadcast that made it to air showed that one of the answers was condensed.
Trump has sued CBS News and parent company Paramount claiming that the edits were done deceptively in order to make Harris appear more concise and succinct. The president is seeking $20 billion in damages.
Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that Trump and Paramount have agreed to name a third-party mediator in an attempt to resolve the dispute out of court.
Fired CBS News reporter Catherine Herridge reveals photos of files on Hunter Biden, COVID origins seized by network: ‘Attack on investigative journalism’
Investigative journalist Catherine Herridge marked the one-year anniversary of the day that her former employer, CBS News, gave back her confidential files. © X / @C__Herridge
Herridge posted an image on her X account showing boxes filled with folders and binders. © X/Catherine Herridge
Herridge posted an image showing four boxes worth of material that was seized by CBS News. © X/Catherine Herridge
The seizure of the files by CBS News triggered an investigation by the House Judiciary Committee. © Christopher Sadowski
Investigative journalist Catherine Herridge marked the one-year anniversary of the day that her former employer, CBS News, gave back her confidential files. X / @C__Herridge
Herridge posted an image on her X account showing boxes filled with folders and binders. X/Catherine Herridge
Herridge posted an image showing four boxes worth of material that was seized by CBS News. X/Catherine Herridge
The seizure of the files by CBS News triggered an investigation by the House Judiciary Committee. Christopher Sadowski |
