Rupert Murdoch’s car mobbed ahead of UK hearing
Jill Lawless
Associated Press
via Washington Examiner
7/19/2011
…Politicians will be seeking more details about the scale of criminality at Murdoch’s News of the World tabloid, while the Murdochs will try to avoid incriminating themselves or doing more harm to their business without misleading Parliament, which is a crime.
Lawmakers are also holding a separate hearing to question London police about reports that officers took bribes from journalists to provide inside information for tabloid scoops and to ask why the force decided to shut down an earlier phone hacking probe after charging only two people.
Detectives reopened the case earlier this year and are looking at a potential 3,700 victims.
London’s Metropolitan Police force said Tuesday it had asked watchdog to investigate its head of public affairs over the scandal — the fifth senior police official being investigated. The Independent Police Complaints Commission will look at Dick Fedorcio’s role in hiring a former News of the World executive as an adviser to the police.
Fedorcio also was to be questioned by lawmakers Tuesday, along with police chief Paul Stephenson and assistant commissioner John Yates, who both resigned over allegations of too-close ties to Murdoch journalists…
…Prime Minister David Cameron cut short a visit to Africa and is expected to return to Britain for an emergency session Wednesday of Parliament on the scandal.
A former News of the World reporter, Sean Hoare, who helped blow the whistle on the scandal, was found dead Monday in his home. Police said the death was “unexplained” but is not being treated as suspicious. A post-mortem was being conducted Tuesday. Hoare was in his late forties…
…Meanwhile, Internet hackers took aim at Murdoch late Monday, defacing the sites of his other U.K. tabloid, The Sun, and shutting down website of The Times of London. Visitors to The Sun website were redirected to a page featuring a story saying Murdoch’s dead body had been found in his garden.
Internet hacking collective Lulz Security took responsibility for that hacking attack via Twitter, calling it a successful part of “Murdoch Meltdown Monday.”…
Read the complete article at the Washington Examiner.
British author and blogger Melanie Phillips says the most disturbing part of this scandal for her (so far) is the behavior of the London Metropolitan Police. We urge you to visit her blog at the link.
Related: At The Astute Bloggers, Labor Unions Attacking Murdoch in Concerted Legal Effort.
Update: Rupert Murdoch Physically Assaulted At Inquiry where Ace notes, “Jammie Wearing Fool notes the American media loves this scandal, but is meanwhile utterly uninterested in Operation Fast & Furious.” Michelle Malkin and GatewayPundit have more about today’s hearing in London.
