A federal judge ruled to hold veteran journalist Catherine Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to reveal her source for stories on a Chinese scientist under FBI investigation.
US District Judge Christopher Cooper, appointed by Obama, imposed a $800 per day fine, nearly $300k annually, until Herridge discloses the source.
Cooper said Herridge, respected for impartial reporting, must reveal how she learned of the federal probe into whether the scientist lied about military service and if their university database could be accessed by China.
“Herridge and many of her colleagues in the journalism community may disagree with that decision and prefer that a different balance be struck, but she is not permitted to flout a federal court’s order with impunity,” Cooper wrote.
The scientist had sued the government, claiming Herridge was given privacy violating info from the FBI probe.
Fox News blasted the ruling, saying holding a journalist in contempt for protecting sources has a chilling effect and the decision should be appealed.
“Holding a journalist in contempt for protecting a confidential source has a deeply chilling effect on journalism. Fox News Media remains committed to protecting the rights of a free press and freedom of speech and believes this decision should be appealed,” Fox News wrote.