By Charles Switzer
8:57am PST, Feb 27, 2025
Catherine Herridge Exposes CBS News for Seizing Confidential Files
Former
CBS News investigative reporter
Catherine Herridge took to social media to reveal photos of the confidential files the network seized following her abrupt firing,
The New York Post reported.
The materials, which included sensitive reporting on
COVID-19 origins and
Hunter Biden, had been at the center of a controversy surrounding press freedom. Herridge, who called the seizure a "journalistic rape" and an "attack on investigative journalism," emphasized the sheer volume of documents amounting to over 100 pounds across four large moving boxes.
Here are four takeaways from the reporter's revealing post.
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CBS Under Fire for Handling of Herridge's Materials
CBS News has faced intense scrutiny for its decision to seize Herridge's files, particularly after the reporter testified before a House Judiciary subcommittee titled "Fighting for a Free Press: Protecting Journalists and Their Sources."
The hearing highlighted the broader implications of the network's actions, with
SAG-AFTRA — Herridge's union — applying pressure until the materials were returned.
While CBS declined to comment on the controversy, the backlash has fueled growing concerns over the network's editorial practices and its treatment of investigative journalism.
Hunter Biden Laptop Investigation: A Suppressed Story?
Herridge has long expressed frustration over
CBS News' reluctance to report on key findings related to Biden's laptop. In October 2020, she uncovered damning financial transactions linking Biden to a Chinese energy firm, but her reporting was never aired.
Instead, CBS allowed
60 Minutes correspondent
Lesley Stahl to publicly dismiss the laptop's authenticity in an interview with President
Donald Trump. Herridge described feeling "sick" watching the report, especially given that CBS did not confirm the laptop's authenticity until two years later — well after the 2022 midterm elections.
Trump's Legal Battle With CBS Over '60 Minutes' Edits
CBS has faced additional controversy over its editorial decisions, particularly concerning its coverage of former Vice President
Kamala Harris. A
60 Minutes interview was edited in a way that made Harris appear more articulate and concise, leading Trump to sue CBS News and parent company Paramount for $20 billion dollars, alleging deceptive editing. The lawsuit has since moved toward mediation, according to
The New York Times, as both parties work to resolve the dispute out of court.
Social Media Reacts to Herridge's Revelations
Herridge's revelations ignited fierce debate on social media, with many journalists and free speech advocates rallying behind her.
Conservative commentator Mollie Hemingway posted, "This is exactly why corporate media has lost credibility — censorship, cover-ups and silencing real journalists."
Meanwhile, investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald wrote, "CBS News executives need to explain why they held back critical investigative reporting before an election. This is not journalism; it's political interference."
On the other hand, some users defended CBS, arguing that the network had the right to protect internal documents. However, the overwhelming sentiment among free press advocates remains one of concern over corporate media's role in suppressing critical stories.
