James Murdoch Under Fire for Testimony

Parliament may call News International boss back
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 25, 2011 12:02 PM CDT
Phone Hacking Scandal: James Murdoch Testimony Faces Growing Challenge
James Murdoch leaves Parliament after giving evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on the News of the World phone-hacking scandal in London, July 19, 2011.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

As the fallout from Britain’s tabloid scandal continues, things could get stickier for James Murdoch in the coming week. The board of British Sky Broadcasting, chaired by Murdoch, has its first meeting since the scandal hit front pages; the firm faces official scrutiny as to whether it is “fit and proper” to broadcast. Meanwhile, Parliament is weighing whether to haul Murdoch and his father back for further questioning after two former News Corp execs questioned the validity of James Murdoch's testimony.

At News International, “it now seems to be everyone for themselves,” says a Labour MP. “The edifice is cracking; they’re all fighting like rats in a sack.” The former execs aren’t the only ones skeptical of the testimony: The man who served as the firm’s legal director until last month has cited “serious inaccuracies” in Murdoch’s statements. A lawyer who worked as outside counsel to settle News Corp's first hacking lawsuit may have information police could use in a criminal inquiry. “So far, it’s two against one,” an insider tells the New York Times. “But if two more lawyers step forward to contradict Mr. Murdoch’s evidence, it would raise even more profound questions.” (More James Murdoch stories.)

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