{"id":2082892,"date":"2023-10-29T04:34:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-29T08:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-fox-news-reporter-refuses-to-reveal-source-faces-contempt-charge\/"},"modified":"2023-10-29T04:39:10","modified_gmt":"2023-10-29T08:39:10","slug":"former-fox-news-reporter-refuses-to-reveal-source-faces-contempt-charge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-fox-news-reporter-refuses-to-reveal-source-faces-contempt-charge\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Fox News Reporter Defies Source Disclosure, Faces Contempt Charge."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-fox-news-reporter-refuses-to-reveal-source-faces-contempt-charge%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2082892&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>A Reporter Faces Contempt Charge \u200bfor Protecting Confidential Source<\/h2>\n<p>A reporter who once \u200dworked for Fox News and\u2063 now reports for CBS News \u2062is defying a court order to reveal the identity of a confidential\u2062 source. Catherine Herridge, the reporter in question, was ordered \u2062in August\u2064 to\u2063 disclose the source&#8217;s\u2063 identity and \u200dmotive. The \u2062source had provided information about an \u200cFBI investigation \u200dinto a Chinese\u200d scientist.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>Despite the\u2062 court order,\u200b Herridge has refused to answer \u200cquestions about her \u200csource and her reporting process during a deposition.\u200b Lawyers for the scientist involved in the case\u200d have\u2064 filed a \u2062motion asking \u200cthe court to hold\u200b Herridge in contempt, \u2063which \u200bcould result\u200c in jail time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper, who issued the order, stated \u2063that Herridge would likely face \u2063contempt \u2064charges if she continued to\u200c withhold the information. In his ruling, Judge \u2063Cooper suggested \u200dthat either Herridge would be held in contempt and\u2062 appeal \u200cthe decision, or the \u200csource might \u200drelease her from the confidentiality\u200d agreement \u2064to\u2062 avoid the consequences of contempt.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<h2>Related\u200b Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/judge-agrees-former-los-angeles-county-sheriff-wont-face-contempt-hearing-5510551?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><br \/>\n<h3>Judge\u200d Agrees Former Los\u200d Angeles County Sheriff Won&#8217;t Face Contempt \u200dHearing<\/h3>\n<p><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/fox-news-bret-baier-to-moderate-debate-between-3-speaker-candidates-5505175?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><br \/>\n<h3>Fox News Speaker \u2062Debate Called Off After Candidates Pull Out<\/h3>\n<p><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Herridge&#8217;s \u2062lawyers argued \u2063that the court had the discretion\u200c to certify an appeal before \u200ba contempt ruling, but Judge Cooper rejected their request to\u2062 reconsider his \u2062earlier\u2062 decision. Neither\u200c Herridge&#8217;s \u200blawyers \u2062nor Fox News and CBS News have commented on the matter.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>The case revolves\u2062 around three reports published by Fox News in\u2063 2017, which revealed\u2063 the FBI&#8217;s \u2063investigation into the Chinese scientist.\u200d The scientist, Yanping \u200cChen, \u200bsued\u200b the FBI, alleging that they \u200dleaked the \u2062information to\u200d Herridge. Judge Cooper has determined \u2063that Chen&#8217;s need for the\u200b evidence\u200d outweighs Herridge&#8217;s First Amendment privilege.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Press\u200b freedom groups have criticized the rulings,\u200b expressing concern that requiring reporters to \u2064face \u2062contempt charges before appealing may discourage them from protecting \u2063their sources. Caitlin Vogus, \u200ddeputy director\u2062 of advocacy for the \u200cFreedom of the\u2064 Press Foundation, emphasized\u200c the\u2063 potential \u2063chilling \u2064effect on journalists&#8217; resistance to revealing confidential sources.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What potential consequences could Catherine Herridge face for refusing to comply with the court\u200c order to reveal her source&#8217;s identity?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Will now have to decide whether \u200dto\u2062 enforce the \u200ccontempt \u2062charge against \u2062Catherine Herridge. This\u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-pauses-restrictions-on-biden-admin-contacting-social-media-companies\/\" title=\"Supreme Court halts limits on Biden Admin's communication with social media firms.\">case raises important questions<\/a> about the role of \u2064journalists in protecting their sources and\u2064 the potential consequences\u2064 they may face for doing so.<\/p>\n<p>The protection of confidential sources is a fundamental element \u200dof journalism. Journalists\u2062 rely on these sources to expose corruption, hold those in power accountable, and shed light on important \u2062issues that would otherwise remain hidden from the \u2063public. Without the promise of anonymity, many sources would be hesitant to come forward, fearing retaliation or \u2062other negative consequences.<\/p>\n<p>Catherine\u2063 Herridge&#8217;s refusal to reveal\u2063 her source&#8217;s identity\u2064 can be seen as a principled \u2062stance in defense of the journalist-source relationship. By refusing to comply with the court order, she is sending a message that she values the\u200d integrity of \u2064journalism and the trust placed in her by her sources.<\/p>\n<p>However, this act of defiance also comes with risks. Contempt of court is a serious charge, and if Judge Christopher \u200dCooper decides to enforce it, Herridge could <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-uk-law-could-see-trolls-jailed-for-causing-psychological-harm-disinfo-ratioing\/\" title=\"New UK Law Could See Trolls Jailed for Causing 'Psychological Harm', Disinfo, Ratioing\">potentially face jail time<\/a>. This raises the stakes not only for Herridge but for all journalists who find\u2064 themselves in similar situations.<\/p>\n<p>The outcome\u200c of this case \u200dwill have implications for the future of journalism and the extent to which journalists can protect their sources. If \u2062Herridge is held \u2064in contempt and faces punishment, it could set a dangerous precedent that undermines the ability of journalists to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-fox-news-reporter-refuses-to-reveal-source-faces-contempt-charge\/\" title=\"Ex-Fox News Reporter Defies Source Disclosure, Faces Contempt Charge.\">conduct investigative reporting freely<\/a> and without fear of legal consequences.<\/p>\n<p>It is crucial for journalists and news organizations to advocate for the protection of sources and \u2064the \u2064principles that underpin investigative journalism. The Society of Professional Journalists, for example, has long promoted the ethical responsibility of journalists to protect the confidentiality of their sources. In a \u2062statement regarding this specific case, the organization expressed its support for \u2063Herridge and urged the\u2062 court to respect the vital role of journalists in providing the public with accurate and important information.<\/p>\n<p>The case also highlights the need for a federal shield law to protect journalists from\u200d being forced to\u200c reveal their sources. While some states have implemented shield laws, providing varying degrees of protection, there is no\u2062 universal federal law in place. Such legislation would ensure \u2064consistent protection for journalists across the country and strengthen the role of the press in our democracy.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the decision of Judge Christopher Cooper regarding the contempt charge against Catherine \u2064Herridge will have far-reaching implications not only for her but for the entire journalism profession. It \u2062is essential that the court recognizes the importance of protecting the journalist-source relationship and considers the broader implications for press freedom and the public&#8217;s right to information.<\/p>\n<p>Journalists should\u200d be able to fulfill their vital role as watchdogs of society without fear of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/you-will-be-made-to-celebrate\/\" title=\"You Will Be Made To Celebrate\">facing legal consequences<\/a> for protecting their sources.\u2062 The case of Catherine Herridge serves as a \u2063reminder \u200bof the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ex-opensea-managers-trial-kicks-off-in-first-nft-insider-trading-case\/\" title=\"Former OpenSea manager faces trial in groundbreaking NFT insider trading case. Get ready for the legal drama!\">ongoing challenges faced<\/a> by journalists and the importance of upholding the principles of a free and independent press.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A former Fox News reporter, Catherine Herridge, now with CBS News, is being charged with contempt for refusing to disclose the identity of a confidential source. Despite a court order, she stands firm in protecting the source&#8217;s anonymity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":2082893,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2082892","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2082892","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/75"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2082892"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2082892\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2082893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2082892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2082892"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2082892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}