Early yesterday morning, Rupert and James Murdoch sent letters to the Commons Culture Select Committee, refusing an invitation to appear before a panel looking into phone hacking. But the panel wasn’t buying it and formally summoned them both to testify.
As Rupert and James are both American citizens, they may not have been compelled by law to attend the inquiry but agreed to testify as soon as the summonses were issued. I wonder if their quick response had anything to do with Sir George Young, the leader of the House of Commons, when he said lawmakers could impose penalties, including imprisonment, if people refusing to testify were deemed to be in contempt of Parliament. Ms Brooks who is a British subject, has also agreed to testify next week but has warned that she may not be able to answer detailed questions.
So things are getting serious - Scotland Yard have arrested Neil Wallis, former editor of The News of the World. Someone gave the order to break into the voicemail of Milly Dowler, the 13 year old who was abducted and murdered and they intend to find out who it was.
And it's a long way from over. Politicians in America have requested the FBI to look into allegations that News Corp hacked into the phones of September 11 victims.
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