Murdoch to appear before UK parliamentary panel

Son & key executive, too, even as US legislature members seek News Corp probe.

A committee of the British parliament investigating the telephone tapping scandal involving the publications of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation will question him, his son, James, and News International CEO Rebekah Brooks the coming Tuesday.

The committee on Tuesday decided to call the three for more evidence on developments in the scandal, that has already led to the permanent closure of one of News Corp’s publications.

John Whittingdale, the panel head, had said, “In light of the extraordinary developments this week around phone hacking, serious questions have arisen about the evidence given to the Committee by a number of witnesses in its previous inquiry into press standards, libel and privacy. In particular, James Murdoch (who is officially second-in-command at News Corp) has said Parliament was misled, a very serious matter that we will not allow to go unquestioned.”

Initally, Murdoch Sr had said he would not testify, while James had, citing other commitments, offered to appear at a later date. With neither being British citizens, the legal consequences of their not apearing on the scheduled date was unclear (brooks had said she’d be there). However, later in the evening, after discussion within the company, the Murdochs decided to appear as asked.

Meanwhile, five members of the US legislature, the Congress, have asked the Department of Justice (DoJ) there to investigate whether News Corp broke the law in the US by hacking cell phones or allegedly bribing public officials.

Senator Jay Rockefeller on Tuesday told CNN, the cable news channel, he was considering launching an investigation. Then, yesterday morning, fellow Senator Barbara Boxer and he sent a letter to the DoJ and the Securities and Exchange Commission (the capital markets regulator in the US), calling for an investigation into whether News Corp violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

In a statement issued yesterday, Rockefeller had said, “I am concerned that the admitted phone hacking in London by the News Corp. may have extended to 9/11 victims or other Americans. If they did, the consequences will be severe.”

After closing his News of the World Sunday tabloid last week, the publication responsible for the phone hacking scandal, Murdoch yesterday withdrew his bid to gain full control of satellite broadcaster BSkyB, in the face of intense political opposition. Also, British Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday appointed a public inquiry into the scandal, to be led by a judge with powers to call journalists, media executives and proprietors and the police as witnesses.