Robert Herring (businessman)

Herring was born Alson Shelby Herring in a house in northeastern Louisiana in 1941. The family moved to a farm near Bakersfield, California, in 1948, and later moved near Los Angeles. Herring's father died when he was a teenager; he dropped out of high school and worked to support his family. He would eventually earn his GED.{{cite news |date=2021-10-07 |first=John |last=Shiffman |title=The tech entrepreneur who founded Trump's go-to TV news network |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-oneamerica-founder/ |publisher=Reuters |access-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614222612/https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-oneamerica-founder/ |url-status=live }}

Perceiving his given first name Alson to sound too feminine, Herring called himself Robert or Bob and legally changed his name to Robert in 2005.

Herring initially worked as a chauffeur and owned several pet shops. In 1972, he acquired a local circuit board factory and renamed it Industrial Circuits. In 1981, he hired Michael Reagan, son of then-President Ronald Reagan, as a salesman at Industrial Circuits. Herring sold Industrial Circuits to Toppan Printing in 1988 for $52 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-08-08-fi-292-story.html|title=Maker of Circuit Boards Plugs Back In|date=1989-08-08|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-06|archive-date=April 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406233537/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-08-08-fi-292-story.html|url-status=live}}

In 1989, Herring created another circuit board company, Herco Technology, with his sons Charles and Robert Jr. as co-owners. In 1994, a Herco employee reported to his supervisors that the facility in San Diego County was illegally flushing copper, prompting an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In 1995, Herring fired the employee, who sued Herco for retaliation and was awarded $78,400 in damages. In November 1997, Herco pleaded guilty to one count of pollution and agreed to pay a criminal fine of $170,000, following a report by a resident in June. For the next three years, the company received pollution violation notices for releasing copper, silver and cyanide into the environment.

In 2000, the Herrings sold the company to Teradyne for $122 million.{{Cite web|url=https://sec.report/Document/0000950135-00-005110/|title=Teradyne Form 10-Q|date=2000-11-15|language=en-US|access-date=2020-06-12|archive-date=June 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612200008/https://sec.report/Document/0000950135-00-005110/|url-status=live}} After Teradyne's stock fell by about half in the next year, the Herrings sued the company, alleging that Teradyne executives had misled them during the negotiations. Teradyne denied any wrongdoing, saying that it had properly disclosed its finances before the deal and that market conditions had shifted. The Herrings lost the lawsuit.

In 2003, Herring founded Herring Networks, a media network based in San Diego.{{cite web |title=Herring Networks Inc - Company Profile and News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/1286333D:US |website=Bloomberg News |access-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-date=February 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202075659/https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/1286333D:US |url-status=live }} In 2004, Herring launched the cable channel Wealth TV (now AWE).{{cite news |date=2019-06-15 |first=David |last=Smith |title=Trump has a new favourite news network – and it's more rightwing than Fox |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jun/15/oan-oann-fox-news-donald-trump |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=July 8, 2022 |archive-date=October 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015224347/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jun/15/oan-oann-fox-news-donald-trump |url-status=live }} In 2013, the network launched One America News Network, a far-right{{refn|{{cite journal |last1=Guglielmi |first1=Giorgia |title=The next-generation bots interfering with the US election |journal=Nature |date=28 October 2020 |volume=587 |issue=7832 |page=21 |doi=10.1038/d41586-020-03034-5 |pmid=33116324 |bibcode=2020Natur.587...21G |doi-access=free }}{{Cite news|last1=Rubin|first1=Olivia|last2=Reevell|first2=Patrick|last3=Bruggeman|first3=Lucien|date=December 5, 2019|title=Giuliani in Ukraine with conservative news outlet in effort to discredit impeachment probe|website=ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rudy-giuliani-ukraine-impeachment-marches-forward-washington/story?id=67519317|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228061458/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rudy-giuliani-ukraine-impeachment-marches-forward-washington/story?id=67519317|archive-date=February 28, 2020}}{{cite news|last=Lederman|first=Josh|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/inside-giuliani-s-new-push-flip-script-trump-s-impeachment-n1106321|title=Inside Giuliani's new push to flip the script on Trump's impeachment|date=December 23, 2019|access-date=April 6, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226115124/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/inside-giuliani-s-new-push-flip-script-trump-s-impeachment-n1106321|archive-date=February 26, 2020|website=NBC News}}{{Cite web|title=Meet OAN, the little-watched right-wing news channel that Trump keeps promoting|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/08/media/one-america-news-trump/index.html|last=Darcy|first=Oliver|website=CNN|date=May 8, 2020|access-date=May 8, 2020|archive-date=May 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508125539/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/08/media/one-america-news-trump/index.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first1=Justin|last1=Baragona|accessdate=June 18, 2020|title=The Year of Batshit Crazy at OAN, Trump's New Favorite Cable-News Channel|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-year-of-batshit-crazy-at-one-america-news-trumps-new-favorite-cable-news-channel|website=The Daily Beast|date=December 26, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603073936/https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-year-of-batshit-crazy-at-one-america-news-trumps-new-favorite-cable-news-channel|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/04/trump-propaganda-outlet-one-america-news-uninvited-briefings|title=Trump's Other Favorite Propaganda Outlet Uninvited From Press Briefings|first=Caleb|last=Ecarma|work=Vanity Fair|date=April 2, 2020|access-date=April 12, 2020|archive-date=April 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414102046/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/04/trump-propaganda-outlet-one-america-news-uninvited-briefings|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first1=Jared|last1=Newman|accessdate=June 18, 2020|title=Roku is heavily promoting OANN, Trump's latest source for conspiracies|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90514939/oann-pushes-conspiracy-theories-with-help-from-trump-why-is-roku-promoting-it|date=June 10, 2020|website=Fast Company|archive-date=June 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615180251/https://www.fastcompany.com/90514939/oann-pushes-conspiracy-theories-with-help-from-trump-why-is-roku-promoting-it|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2020-06-15/gundys-oan-support-angers-star-oklahoma-st-rb-chuba-hubbard|title=Gundy's OAN Support Angers Star Oklahoma St RB Chuba Hubbard|publisher=Associated Press|date=June 16, 2020|accessdate=June 18, 2020|via=U.S. News & World Report|archive-date=June 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617115339/https://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2020-06-15/gundys-oan-support-angers-star-oklahoma-st-rb-chuba-hubbard|url-status=live}}{{cite news|first1=Emily|last1=Giambalvo|first2=Des|last2=Bieler|accessdate=June 18, 2020|title=Mike Gundy apologizes, says he was 'disgusted' with OAN views on Black Lives Matter|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/06/15/shirt-worn-by-oklahoma-states-mike-gundy-could-spark-revolt-by-his-players/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 16, 2020|archive-date=June 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617204016/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/06/15/shirt-worn-by-oklahoma-states-mike-gundy-could-spark-revolt-by-his-players/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first1=Mark|last1=Scott|accessdate=June 18, 2020|title=American nationalists' European vacation|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/us-nationalists-far-right-europe-elections-digital-facebook/|date=May 24, 2020|website=Politico Europe|archive-date=June 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619093702/https://www.politico.eu/article/us-nationalists-far-right-europe-elections-digital-facebook/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first1=Robert|last1=Mackey|accessdate=June 19, 2020|title=Trump's New Favorite Channel, OAN, Keeps Lying About Buffalo Protester Assaulted by Police|url=https://theintercept.com/2020/06/16/trumps-new-favorite-channel-oan-keeps-lying-buffalo-protester-assaulted-police/|date=June 16, 2020|website=The Intercept|archive-date=June 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618183356/https://theintercept.com/2020/06/16/trumps-new-favorite-channel-oan-keeps-lying-buffalo-protester-assaulted-police/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|accessdate=October 9, 2020|title=The battle in miniature|url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/10/10/the-battle-in-miniature|newspaper=The Economist|issn=0013-0613|date=October 10, 2020|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008190312/https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/10/10/the-battle-in-miniature|url-status=live}}{{cite web|accessdate=October 9, 2020|title=President Trump's press conference calls out two enemies: coronavirus and the media|url=https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2020/president-trumps-press-conference-calls-out-two-enemies-coronavirus-and-the-media/|date=March 20, 2020|website=Poynter Institute|first=Tom|last=Jones|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923075126/https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2020/president-trumps-press-conference-calls-out-two-enemies-coronavirus-and-the-media/|url-status=live}}}} cable channel known for its pro-Donald Trump{{refn|{{cite journal |last1=Santis |first1=Esteban Leonardo |title=From the leader's lips, to the public's ears: The state of exception, administrative evil, and the enemy in President Trump's rhetoric during COVID-19 |journal=Administrative Theory & Praxis |publisher=Taylor & Francis |date=31 July 2020 |volume=42 |issue=4 |pages=7–8 |doi=10.1080/10841806.2020.1798693|doi-access=free}}{{cite web|access-date=October 9, 2020|title=One America News was desperate for Trump's approval. Here's how it got it.|url=https://www.cjr.org/the_profile/one-america-news-oan-trump-herring.php|website=Columbia Journalism Review|first=Andrew|last=McCormick|date=May 27, 2020|archive-date=October 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019210201/https://www.cjr.org/the_profile/one-america-news-oan-trump-herring.php|url-status=live}}{{cite web|first1=Stephen M.|last1=Walt|author-link=Stephen Walt|access-date=October 9, 2020|title=10 Ways Trump Is Becoming a Dictator, Election Edition|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/08/10-ways-trump-is-becoming-a-dictator-election-edition/|website=Foreign Policy|date=September 8, 2020|archive-date=October 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010144808/https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/09/08/10-ways-trump-is-becoming-a-dictator-election-edition/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/30/us/politics/trump-protests-violence-coronavirus.html|title=Trump Embraces Fringe Theories on Protests and the Coronavirus|first=Peter|last=Baker|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 30, 2020|access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-date=August 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830213402/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/30/us/politics/trump-protests-violence-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/08/media/one-america-news-trump/index.html|title=Meet OAN, the little-watched right-wing news channel that Trump keeps promoting|first=Oliver|last=Darcy|website=CNN|date=May 8, 2020 |access-date=May 8, 2020|archive-date=May 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508135733/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/08/media/one-america-news-trump/index.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/06/18/oan-liberal-reporters-327915|title=The Unhappy Liberals Inside Trump's Favorite Network|website=POLITICO|date=June 18, 2020 |access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806231219/https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/06/18/oan-liberal-reporters-327915|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/06/one-america-news-network-staff/|title=Meet the propagandists and conspiracy theorists behind OAN|first=Ali|last=Breland|access-date=June 12, 2020|archive-date=June 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612204137/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/06/one-america-news-network-staff/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last1=Mullin|first1=Benjamin|last2=FitzGerald|first2=Drew|date=2022-01-15|title=DirecTV to Drop OAN Conservative News Channel|language=en-US|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/directv-to-drop-oan-conservative-news-channel-11642214811|access-date=2022-01-17|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=January 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117124450/https://www.wsj.com/articles/directv-to-drop-oan-conservative-news-channel-11642214811|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Butler|first=Jack|date=2020-07-23|title=Don't Watch One America News Network|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2020/08/10/dont-watch-one-america-news-network/|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-17|website=National Review|language=en-US|archive-date=October 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011191502/https://www.nationalreview.com/magazine/2020/08/10/dont-watch-one-america-news-network/}}}} coverage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-trump-oann-banned-violated-social-distancing-restrictions-2020-4|title=A right-wing network beloved by Trump has been banned from White House briefings for violating social-distancing restrictions|last=Porter|first=Tom|website=Business Insider|access-date=2020-04-06|archive-date=April 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418174722/https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-trump-oann-banned-violated-social-distancing-restrictions-2020-4|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/05/the-trump-and-one-america-news-network-love-affair.html|title=Miffed at Fox News, Trump Flirts With an Even More Fawning News Network|last=Raymond|first=Adam K.|date=2019-05-28|website=Intelligencer|language=en-us|access-date=2020-04-06|archive-date=April 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406233533/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/05/the-trump-and-one-america-news-network-love-affair.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/story/2019-09-26/one-america-news-san-diego|title=One America News counts Trump as a fan. But the San Diego channel is fighting for millions more viewers|date=2019-09-27|website=San Diego Union-Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-06|archive-date=April 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429102738/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/story/2019-09-26/one-america-news-san-diego|url-status=live}}

Though Herring has been a conservative since the 1970s, he has occasionally donated to Democrats, including $4,600 to Hillary Clinton in 2007. Herring said under oath that he once voted for Barack Obama for President. The majority of his family's $500,000 in contributions has gone to Republicans.

In 2004, Herring donated $15,000 to help rescue a university talk by left-wing filmmaker Michael Moore after the university cut funding, citing free speech principles.

In 2005, Herring offered $1 million to the husband in the Terri Schiavo case to cede custody of Terri to her parents.{{cite web |date=March 10, 2005 |title=Schiavo's husband rejects $1 million to bow out |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7150458 |website=NBC News |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006190235/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna7150458 |url-status=live }}

Herring married his first wife when he was 18; they had four children by the time Herring was 24. They divorced in 1977. Herring divorced his second wife in 1997. He married his third wife, a Russian national, in 2000. He lives in San Diego.

In September 2024, Herring's legal counsel claimed he has the medical "Alzheimer's disease", while seeking to block his deposition in Dominion Voting Systems' multibillion-dollar defamation lawsuit against him and his network.{{cite news |last1=Diego |first1=Ken Stone • Times of San |title=OAN Founder Robert Herring Sr. Has Alzheimer's Disease, Fights Deposition |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2024/09/26/oan-founder-robert-herring-sr-has-alzheimers-disease-fights-deposition/ |access-date=19 January 2025 |work=Times of San Diego |date=27 September 2024}}

{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Herring, Robert}}

Category:1941 births

Category:Living people

Category:date of birth missing (living people)

Category:American cable television company founders

Category:Businesspeople from California

Category:Businesspeople from Louisiana

Category:Terri Schiavo case

Category:People from Bakersfield, California