Catherine Herridge shares 'important update' after CBS News allegedly seized her confidential files and records

Journalist Catherine Herridge shared an "important update" late Thursday about the shocking news that CBS News allegedly retained her confidential files and records after terminating her employment.

That update, Herridge highlighted, is a statement from her union, SAG-AFTRA, which corroborates the allegations first published by law professor Jonathan Turley.

Turley reported that upon delivering Herridge a pink slip last week, "CBS officials took the unusual step of seizing her files, computers and records, including information on privileged sources."

"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."

The New York Post later corroborated Turley's reporting.

In a statement, SAG-AFTRA condemned CBS News for its actions and explained why "it sets a dangerous precedent for all media professionals and threatens the very foundation of the First Amendment."

The statement said:

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.

The retention of a media professional's reporting materials by their former employer is a serious break with traditional practices which supports the immediate return of reporting materials.

According to SAF-AFTRA, officials at CBS News recently reached out to the union to discuss the matter. It's not clear, however, if Turley's reporting prompted the communication.

In a statement to Blaze Media, a CBS News spokesperson appeared to confirm that Herridge had been locked out of her office — which holds her confidential files and records — upon being laid off.

"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," the spokesperson said. "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," the spokesperson claimed.

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