The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday declined to halt an $800-a-day fine imposed on former Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge for refusing to reveal her confidential sources in a lawsuit involving a Chinese American scientist. The court rejected Herridge’s emergency appeal, allowing the fine to proceed. Justice Brett Kavanaugh was the sole dissenter, supporting a stay on the penalty.
The case stems from Herridge’s 2017 reporting on Yanping Chen, a scientist investigated by the FBI over alleged ties to the Chinese military. Chen sued the government in 2018, claiming privacy violations from the leak. A federal judge ordered Herridge to disclose her sources in 2023, and the D.C. Circuit Court upheld the ruling in 2025. Herridge argued that the First Amendment protects her right to shield sources, while Chen’s legal team demanded disclosure to identify the leaker.
Fox News Media expressed disappointment, stating that protecting journalistic sources is essential for democracy. Herridge’s attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment.