Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. The Supreme Court has declined to intervene in a case where a former Fox News reporter, Catherine Herridge, is being fined $800 a day for refusing to reveal her confidential source for a story about a Chinese American scientist who was investigated by the FBI. I mean, that’s a pretty steep fine just for keeping a secret. The scientist, Yanping Chen, was never charged with anything, but her lawyers are still trying to figure out who leaked the information about her to Herridge.
The high court rebuffed an emergency appeal from Herridge, which means the fine will keep on coming unless she decides to spill the beans. Chief Justice John Roberts had previously put a short-term hold on the fine, but now it’s full steam ahead. Justice Brett Kavanaugh was the only one who thought they should grant the application for a stay, but it looks like he was outvoted.
Herridge wrote a series of stories for Fox News back in 2017 that looked into Chen’s ties to the Chinese military and raised some questions about whether she was using her professional school to help the Chinese government get information about American servicemembers. The stories were based on leaked documents, including an FBI document summarizing an interview with Chen, personal photos, and information from her immigration and naturalization forms. It’s no wonder Chen’s lawyers are trying to figure out who leaked all this stuff – it’s like a real-life spy novel.
The six-year probe into Chen never resulted in any charges, and she ended up suing the FBI and the Justice Department, claiming they violated her privacy. Her lawyers say the leak of her personal info led to hate mail and death threats, which is just awful. Now they’re trying to get Herridge to reveal her source, and the judge has ordered her to pay that hefty fine until she talks.
Herridge’s attorneys haven’t commented on the decision yet, but Fox News Media is disappointed, saying they’re committed to defending the First Amendment principles that protect journalistic sources. The case has been closely watched by media advocates, who say forcing journalists to reveal their sources could have a chilling effect on the free flow of information. As Bruce Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said, “Journalists facing contempt should not have to muster large payments to the court while they seek to vindicate First Amendment rights… And forcing them to betray source confidences always has a harmful impact on the free flow of information to the public.”
Chen’s lawyers, on the other hand, say they’ve exhausted all other ways to find the leaker and that Herridge’s source is key to their case. They hope the Supreme Court’s decision will help bring the matter to a close. It’s a tricky situation, and I’m not sure who’s right or wrong here. But one thing’s for sure – it’s a messy business, and I’m just glad I’m not the one who has to pay $800 a day to keep a secret.
In the end, it’s a bit of a circus, with everyone trying to protect their interests. Herridge wants to protect her source, Chen wants to protect her privacy, and the media advocates want to protect the First Amendment. It’s a delicate balance, and I’m not sure how it’ll all play out. But hey, at least it’s an interesting story – and that’s what counts, right? I mean, who needs a TV drama when you have real-life court cases like this? 🙄
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
