Ex-Murdoch aide Rebekah Brooks arrested in London


Right wing sewer journalism gets another hit.

****




Ex-Murdoch aide Rebekah Brooks arrested in London


LONDON

London police arrested Rebekah Brooks, Rupert Murdoch's former British CEO,
in the phone hacking and police bribery scandal Sunday, and the former News
of the World editor said she was "assisting the police with their
inquiries."

Brooks, 43, was arrested at a London police station at noon Sunday by
appointment. She is being questioned on suspicion of conspiring to intercept
communications -- phone hacking -- and on suspicion of corruption, which
relates to bribing police for information.

A statement released on Brooks' behalf said she "voluntarily attended a
London police station to assist with their ongoing investigation."

The arrest comes just two days before Brooks, Rupert Murdoch and his son
James are due to answer questions from a parliamentary committee
investigating the hacking. Sunday's arrest throws that appearance before
Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport committee into question; Brooks would
not have to answer questions that could prejudice a criminal investigation.

Brooks, one of Murdoch's most loyal lieutenants, stepped down Friday as head
of his British newspapers. She was editor of the now-defunct News of the
World between 2000 and 2003, when some of the phone hacking took place, but
has always said she did not know hacking was going on, a claim greeted with
skepticism by many who worked there.

At an appearance before lawmakers in 2003, she admitted that News
International had paid police for information. That admission of possible
illegal activity went largely unchallenged and, at the time, little noticed.

Police have already arrested nine other people connected to Murdoch's
British media empire over allegations that the News of the World hacked into
the phone voice mails of hundreds of celebrities, politicians, rival
journalists and even murder victims. No one has yet been charged.


BW Extras

.

Relevant Pages