From today's New York Times (Jo Becker and Ravi Somaiya, "Murdoch Aides Long Tried to Blunt Scandal Over Hacking"):
Two days before it emerged that The News of the World had hacked the cellphone of a murdered schoolgirl, igniting a scandal that has shaken Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, his son James told friends that he thought the worst of the troubles were behind him. And he was confident that News Corporation’s $12 billion bid for the British satellite company British Sky Broadcasting would go through...Murdoch and his hirelings have run a corporation based on lying to and manipulating millions in Europe and America, all to support the agenda of right-wing politicos. Not only have they allowed the Murdochs a free hand to expand their business -- more money, more influence and personal power for Murdoch and his Issue -- Little Rupert believes in the same narrow, misbegotten 'Screw The Peasants' agenda as the political right. News Corp has pumped sewage into the eyes and ears of the world for decades.
Evidence indicating that The News of the World paid police for information was not handed over to the authorities for four years. Its parent company paid hefty sums to those who threatened legal action, on condition of silence. The tabloid continued to pay reporters and editors whose knowledge could prove embarrassing even after they were fired or arrested for hacking. A key editor’s computer equipment was destroyed, and e-mail evidence was lost.
Internal advice to accept responsibility was ignored, former executives said. John Whittingdale, a conservative member of Parliament who is the chairman of the committee that will question the Murdochs, said they need to come clean on the depth of the misdeeds, who authorized them and who knew what, when.
“Parliament was misled,” he said. “It will be a lengthy and detailed discussion.”
Mr. Murdoch has indicated he wants to cooperate.
“We think it’s important to absolutely establish our integrity in the eyes of the public,” he said last week. “It’s best just to be as transparent as possible.”
If Rupert and his paid crew expected any other outcome from that kind of behavior, beyond Sow The Wind; Reap The Whirlwind, then they're even more arrogant fools than suspected.
As got said in The Shawshank Redemption, His Judgement Cometh / And That Right Soon.
Nicht So Unglaubliches: via Talking Points Memo:
In another twist in the News Of The World scandal, a former reporter for the tabloid who initially alleged that editor Andy Coulson knew about the practice of phone hacking by his staff, was reportedly found dead Monday.Noch Einmal, Mit Schlag: Hoare apparently knew a great deal about the 'phone hacking'; he was the first former NOTW reporter to come forward and declare the 'hacking' was more widespread and sophisticated than anyone knew.
The Guardian reports that though police wouldn't confirm the identity of the man found dead, it is believed to be Sean Hoare, formerly of NOTW and The Sun... According to the police report, "the death is currently being treated as unexplained, but not thought to be suspicious. Police investigations into this incident are ongoing."
From the police statement, via The Guardian:
"At 10.40am today [Monday 18 July] police were called to Langley Road, Watford, following the concerns for the welfare of a man who lives at an address on the street. Upon police and ambulance arrival at a property, the body of a man was found. The man was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after."
Since last year, he had made numerous statements -- including a recent interview with the BBC, where he claimed then-News Of The World-editor Andy Coulson [later, Tory Prime Minister Cameron's Director of Communications] knew intimately what targets were being hacked, and how it was being done: With the help of the police.
Just last week, Mr. Hoare told The [New York] Times that British police had used illicit cellphone tracking, known to News of the World journalists as “pinging,” to help them locate subjects...I have bought the special caramel popcorn, with the Toy Surprise inside, to eat while watching all this continue to unfold.
Under British law, the technology involved is restricted to law enforcement and security officials, requires case-by-case authorization and is used mainly for high-profile criminal cases and terrorism investigations, according to a former senior Scotland Yard official who requested anonymity so as to be able to speak candidly.
And we haven't even gotten started on the American side of the story: Early days, yet, Lil' Rupert; early days.
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