CBS Returns Catherine Herridge's Files, but Sources Dish on More Questions

CBS created an uproar when they fired investigative journalist Catherine Herridge, who had been pursuing multiple stories pertaining to the Biden family, among others. Then, on top of that, the furor intensified when it came out that they'd seized her files, computers, and records.

Herridge's union, SAG-AFTRA, condemned CBS' actions. They demanded the return of the files, saying this was a dangerous precedent to set and was a threat to the First Amendment. Even the House Judiciary Committee Chair demanded to know who was behind the firing and all the documents related to her firing/the seizing of her files. They wanted answers by March 1.

I don't think CBS figured on the backlash that they were going to get. They released a statement disputing that they'd "seized" her files, claimed that her office had been secured, and that they had respected her wishes not to go through the files. Sources said that they had boxed up her personal belongings except for her files. As I noted, if that's true, that would seem someone did some review of her things, to be able to make that differentiation.

What Happened to Catherine Herridge's Files: Sources Dish, CBS Responds

It looks like they were forced into thinking better of their actions and they've now turned over her files.

“Catherine Herridge’s union representative picked up her materials this morning,” a CBS News rep said on Monday.

They tried to cast it as a normal situation when no one looking at it perceived it as such.

“This was a standard HR conversation about materials in her office, which Catherine then referred to her union representative,” a spokesperson said. Yeah, I don't think so.

Indeed, according to reports, Herridge had faced "roadblocks from higher-ups" over her coverage of Hunter Biden and come up on the wrong side of CBS president Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews. So, was it about Biden material or about concerns that she might have some information related to wrongful termination? Sources had speculated as to both questions.

And those sources dished a bit more:

It is unclear who gave the order to seize Herridge’s files in the first place — whether it came from Ciprian-Matthews or her bosses, CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon or CBS CEO George Cheeks.
A high-ranking CBS source told The Post neither McMahon nor Cheeks were involved in the decision to hold on to Herridge’s files.
Sources close to the situation said the network was particularly rattled when SAG-AFTRA, the union representing CBS News employees, came out strongly in favor or Herridge.

So, if it wasn't McMahon or Cheeks, who could it be? Hmm...

CBS is desperately trying to fend off the backlash by giving her files back. But why did they keep them, to begin with? What were they trying to do?

Plus, how do we know that they didn't review any of the files? Herridge is likely going to have to make an assessment as to whether she got everything back.

If they don't provide the information requested by the Committee by March 1, they may next find themselves getting subpoenas to explain themselves further.