News Corporation continues to be besieged in the United Kingdom. Its board signaled support for Rupert Murdoch, but Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) is asking British sources for information.
A report from the House of Commons labeled Murdoch as unfit to run his corporation.
In response, News Corp. issued the following statement:
“The Board of Directors of News Corporation met today and announced its full confidence in Rupert Murdoch’s fitness and support for his continuing to lead News Corporation into the future as its Chairman and CEO. The Board based its vote of confidence on Rupert Murdoch’s vision and leadership in building News Corporation, his ongoing performance as Chairman and CEO, and his demonstrated resolve to address the mistakes of the Company identified in the Select Committee’s report.”
Rockefeller, who expressed interest in the case when it first broke in the summer of 2011, sent an inquiry to Lord Justice Brian Leveson, who has been leading the investigation into the matter.
Rockefeller’s office issued its own statement, saying, “As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Rockefeller has jurisdiction over media and communications issues in the United States. Rockefeller raised questions about the extent of News Corp’s phone hacking last July when the allegations were broadly reported in the U.S. Today’s new request for information comes as the Leveson Inquiry and other British investigations are disclosing large volumes of new information and documents about News International’s widespread misconduct.”
The call has come from at least one media watchdog, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, for FCC license revocations and congressional hearings. Rockefeller can certainly handle the latter request. Stay tuned.
