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Supreme Court declines to halt fine for ex-Fox News reporter
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Supreme Court declined to block an $800-a-day fine against former Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge for refusing to reveal her confidential source in a lawsuit filed by Chinese American scientist Yanping Chen.
- Chen sued the government after an FBI investigation into her ties to the Chinese military, alleging that leaked private information damaged her reputation, violated the Privacy Act, and led to threats against her.
- A federal judge ruled Herridge must disclose her source to aid Chen’s lawsuit, but Herridge refused and was held in civil contempt, with the fine set to begin after an appeals court upheld the order.
- Media advocates warn that forcing journalists to reveal sources could undermine press freedom and deter whistleblowers from exposing government wrongdoing.
- Fox News expressed disappointment in the Supreme Court's decision and affirmed its commitment to defending First Amendment rights, while Chen’s lawyers stressed the importance of identifying the leaker to address alleged government misconduct.
