CBS says it has returned notes belonging to journalist who was 'fired for investigating Hunter Biden' and denies trying to stop her reporting as Ted Cruz insists she was punished for going after the truth

CBS News has returned the notes it seized from a high-profile reporter the network fired for 'investigating Hunter Biden.'

Catherine Herridge, a veteran reporter covering national security and intelligence, was among the hundreds of CBS employees who were laid off by parent company Paramount last week. 

Herridge covered investigations into the Biden family, and the network seized her personal notes after her termination in a move her union calls 'completely inappropriate' and 'very unusual.' 

However, CBS denied claims that it had improperly seized Herridge's private files and told DailyMail.com it had returned the materials to her.

In a statement on Thursday, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing CBS employees, said it 'strongly condemns CBS News' decision to seize Catherine Herridge's reporter notes and research from her office, including confidential source information.'

Catherine Herridge, a veteran reporter covering national security and intelligence, was among the CBS News employees laid off last week

Herridge had recently covered the House impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden and the criminal charges against Hunter Biden

'This action is deeply concerning to the union because it sets a dangerous precedent for all media professionals and threatens the very foundation of the First Amendment,' the statement added. 

'Catherine's personal belongings were delivered to her home one week ago, and we are prepared to pack up the rest of her files immediately on her behalf – with her representative present as she requested,' said a CBS News spokesperson.

'We have respected her request to not go through the files, and out of our concern for confidential sources, the office she occupied has remained secure since her departure,' CBS said.

Herridge had recently covered the House impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, special counsel Robert Hur's report on his handling of classified documents, and the criminal charges against Hunter Biden. 

Her inclusion in recent layoffs puzzled some industry observers, as she regularly broke news and landed scoops for CBS. 

'Catherine Herridge has been a unicorn, a reporter for the corporate media for CBS, and she has been willing to actually report on the Biden corruption so what did CBS do? They laid her off?' Senator Ted Cruz commented on his podcast. 

Herridge has not publicly commented on her firing, other than to share the union statement about the matter on X.

'It is completely inappropriate for an employer to lay off a reporter and take the very unusual step of retaining and searching the reporter's files, inclusive of confidential source identification and information,' the union said.

Herridge in November 2022 authenticated Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop

Separately, Herridge has been in the middle of a high-profile court battle over her refusal to reveal sources for articles she wrote in 2017

'The retention of a media professional's reporting materials by their former employer is a serious break with traditional practices which supports the immediate return of reporting materials,' the union added. 

Citing sources, the New York Post claimed that Herridge had been pursuing a story related to Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop, and that she had 'encountered roadblocks' from management over her coverage of the First Son.

Herridge in November 2022 authenticated the laptop, which the Post had first reported on in October 2020. 

Separately, Herridge has been in the middle of a high-profile court battle over her refusal to reveal sources for articles she wrote in 2017.

A judge has demanded she reveal sources used in a series of articles about a Chinese American scientist who was investigated by the FBI but never charged with wrongdoing.

Herridge could face fines of up to $5,000 per day if she refuses to be interviewed under oath for the case. 

Fox News, where she worked at the time, has been covering her legal fees in the case.