British Parliament Again Calls James Murdoch on Phone-Hacking Scandal

 

British lawmakers say they will recall News International's deputy chief operations officer, James Murdoch, for questioning in connection with the phone-hacking scandal at the now-defunct News of the World tabloid. Murdoch will face new questions about whether he knew that phone-hacking was widespread at the newspaper. It will be his second public questioning since lawmakers grilled him and his father, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, in July. The recall centers around claims that James Murdoch saw an e-mail that is said to prove that phone-hacking at the paper was more widespread than earlier reported. Several people have been arrested in connection with the scandal, including former News of the World editors Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson. Coulson went on to head communications for Prime Minister David Cameron before resigning in January. News of the World shut down in July after allegations that reporters illegally accessed the cell phone voice mails of hundreds of celebrities, politicians, rival journalists and even murder victims. They also are suspected of bribing police for information. In a separate development, the mother of a man killed in the 2005 terrorist attacks on the London transport system has filed a lawsuit against News International for illegal hacking. Sheila Henry, whose son was killed in the July 7 bombings, is among several people seeking damages from News International. News International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch's worldwide media conglomerate, News Corporation.