Bruce Braley (D-IA) is a member in good standing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and believes that the Committee has an angle on the News Corporation scandal. He is demanding that Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) hold a hearing.
In a letter to Issa, Braley wrote, “It has been reported that News Corporation and its subsidiaries may have bribed London police officers for information for use in newspaper articles, including information about high-ranking government officials. If true, these charges could be a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) that forbids bribery of foreign government officials by U.S.-based companies.”
Braley continued, “Additionally, News Corporation has already admitted to phone hacking in London, and I have concerns about allegations that hacking may have also extended to U.S. citizens. I ask that you investigate whether victims of the September 11, 2001 attack and other U.S. citizens had their cell phones targeted by News Corporation. Please look into the serious allegations that have been made against News Corporation. We owe it to the American public to find out if victims have been subject to criminal actions by News Corporation and its affiliates.”
Braley said the Committee had a duty to look into the matter and asked for a response from Issa within 10 business days.
Discussing his action, Braley stated, “These reports are very troubling and I believe they require a thorough Investigation. The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has a duty to protect the privacy of Americans and to hold U.S. corporations accountable – and I expect Chairman Issa to direct the Committee to carry out its duties as they relate to this very serious case.”
Issa told The Hill that he wasn’t ruling anything out but added that his staff had not had a chance to fully delve into the matter.
