Controversy at CBS News involving Catherine Herridge and Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews
CBS News president Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews, who played a role in pushing out investigative reporter Catherine Herridge, is being honored with a free speech award despite the controversy. The decision to oust Herridge was made by higher-ups in the Washington D.C. bureau. The restructuring at CBS led to layoffs, including Herridge. Critics accuse the network of allowing Herridge to be swept up in the mass culling. The House Judiciary Committee has launched an investigation into Herridge's termination and the handling of her files. CBS News returned her personal files containing confidential information on her legal case and stories she had worked on after facing pressure.