US appeals court rejects ex-Fox News reporter Catherine Herridges bid to protect confidential sources
A US appeals court rejected journalist Catherine Herridge’s request to throw out a contempt order against her after the former Fox News and CBS News reporter refused to reveal confidential sources who leaked information about a Chinese-American scientist.Last year, Herridge was held in contempt of court and fined $800 a day by a federal judge after she refused to reveal the name of the person who leaked her information about Yanping Chen.In 2017, Herridge authored a series of stories that were published by Fox News about Chen, including her past military service in China’s People’s Liberation Army prior to her emigrating to the United States more than four decades ago.Herridge’s reporting also revealed that Chen was once subjected to FBI questioning over past alleged misstatements related to her immigration forms as well as details about her work with the Chinese space program.As part of its counterintelligence investigation that spanned six year, the FBI conducted a search of Chen’s home.Chen, who has denied insinuations that she spied for China, was never charged with a crime.In 2018, Chen filed suit against the FBI, claiming that the federal agency leaked details of the probe to Herridge and Fox News in order to damage her reputation.Chen’s attorneys deposed dozens of witnesses as part of their lawsuit, though they still could not ascertain the identity of the leaker — prompting Chen to subpoena Herridge and Fox News.US District Judge Christopher Cooper held Herridge in contempt of court last year after she refused to reveal her sources.“The Court does not reach this result lightly,” Cooper wrote in his February 2024 decision.“It recognizes the paramount importance of a free press in our society and the critical role that confidential sources play in the work of investigative journalists like Herridge.”“Yet the Court also has its own role to play in upholding the law and safeguarding judicial authority.”Herridge appealed the decision t...