Murdoch Company Admits Knowing About Phone Hacking, Concealing and Destroying Evidence

Organized crime

MediaJanuary 2012 • Views: 14,261

A stunning admission today in the News Corp. hacking scandal; as Rupert Murdoch’s company settled with some of the phone hacking victims, lawyers for the victims announced that senior News Corp. employees and directors had admitted to knowing about the illegal operations, deceiving investigators, and destroying evidence: Murdoch Company Settles With 36 Hacking Victims.

LONDON — The actor Jude Law, the soccer star Ashley Cole, and Lord Prescott, a former British deputy prime minister, were named Thursday on a list of 36 victims of phone hacking who have reached settlements totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars with Rupert Murdoch’s media empire.

A statement by lawyers representing hacking victims said that Mr. Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers, which published the now-defunct News of the World tabloid, had agreed to pay substantial damages on the basis “that senior employees and directors” of the company “knew about the wrongdoing and sought to conceal it by deliberately deceiving investigators and destroying evidence.”

This isn’t a media corporation — it’s an organized crime ring.

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43 comments

Targetpractice Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:26:21pm

This isn’t a media corporation — it’s an organized crime ring.

Indeed. But what are really the odds that we'll see any of the Murdoch clan involved in this behind bars in our lifetime?

Kragar Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:26:50pm

Capone needed better lawyers.

AK-47% Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:27:06pm

re: #1 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

Indeed. But what are really the odds that we'll see any of the Murdoch clan involved in this behind bars in our lifetime?

They can afford to settle their way out of most anything...

albusteve Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:28:09pm

wow....fairly stunning revelation....get your checkbook out, Roop

albusteve Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:29:56pm

re: #2 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Capone needed better lawyers.

Meyer Lansky never went to jail

MittDoesNotCompute Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:30:10pm

If this happened in America (which it very well may have), I'd have no problems with the RICO statutes getting a workout and senior Fox execs taking a perpwalk.

We know that'll never happen, because Murdoch and Ailes has driven the company's tentacles deep into Washington's machinery.

blueraven Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:30:51pm

...36 victims of phone hacking who have reached settlements totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars with Rupert Murdoch’s media empire.

Hundreds of thousands? That's all? Should be millions.
scum.

engineer cat Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:31:09pm

and if they are ever prosecuted for it, will i guess receive proportionately less of a sentence than a teenager caught holding up a 7-11

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:31:31pm

And an organized crime ring should be broken up.

erik_t Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:31:50pm

Well, holy shit. Didn't see that coming.

If settlement was the preferred option, one wonders what other skeletons are lurking.

albusteve Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:35:01pm

re: #9 Sergey Romanov

And an organized crime ring should be broken up.

I like mobsters, as a reading hobby that is...really fascinating stuff

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:35:45pm

A lovely comment under RimJob's endorsement of Newt:

If not the President of the USA, then the CSA......

Obdicut Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:36:43pm

Are they going to haul them back for more testimony?

jamesfirecat Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:39:51pm

re: #13 Obdicut

Are they going to haul them back for more testimony?

We can only hope.

albusteve Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:40:29pm

the price of smut just took off like a rocket

Kragar Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:42:24pm

re: #15 albusteve

the price of smut just took off like a rocket

You saw the MegaUpload news too?

lawhawk Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:42:59pm

Jude Law, one of those who were victims of the hacking scandal, apparently settled for roughly $200,000:

The actor Jude Law received the highest disclosed payout of £130,000 damages plus costs as payments totalling £640,000 were made in 15 cases where the amount of amounts were made public.

The former deputy prime minister, John Prescott, received £40,000, Labour MP Chris Bryant received £30,000; Sadie Frost, Jude Law's former wife, received £50,000; and Gavin Henson, the Welsh rugby international £40,000. However, with damages from the other settlements and costs factored in, lawyers estimated that News International's bill could hit £10m.

That's an appallingly low sum considering what was going on here. It should also be sufficient to get further criminal charges going against all those involved in the scandal, particularly in the way some of the admissions were made.

Then again, the News Corp lawyers did their job too:

NGN made no admission as part of these settlements that directors or senior employees knew about the wrongdoing by NGN or sought to conceal it. However, for the purpose of reaching these settlements only, NGN agreed that the damages to be paid to claimants should be assessed as if this was the case."

Do what you can to limit liability, make no further admissions, etc., but those admissions already made are pretty damning as it is.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:44:16pm

re: #17 lawhawk

If I were a millionaire, I wouldn't have settled for such pennies. The joy of hurting the Evil Empire alone would be worth more.

Mostly sane, most of the time. Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:45:02pm

Perpwalk! Cover your head with your Armani suitcoat!

lawhawk Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:45:14pm

re: #10 erik_t

Settlement made sense; if you're the victims, you don't have deep pockets (even if you're Jude Law) and the ongoing expense of fighting for money takes its toll and costs money, even if the upside of a payday after a trial is significantly higher. The company has the incentive to delay, but only so long as that can work against them in court of public opinion. It made sense to settle to avoid a still higher payday after a trial. It just came down to how much the sides were willing to forgo.

engineer cat Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:46:30pm

on the one hand, hmmmm...

"Clarus Research Group. Jan. 16-18
If there were only two candidates in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, would you most likely vote for Mitt Romney or [see below]?" Options rotated

Mitt Romney 50%
Newt Gingrich 34%

Mitt Romney 50%
Rick Santorum 36%

Mitt Romney 62%
Ron Paul 24%

but on the other hand, hmmm...

What a difference one debate makes
On Monday before the debate, Romney led Gingrich in the [NBC News/Marist South Carolina Primary] poll by 15 points, 37 percent to 22 percent. But on Tuesday, that advantage narrowed to just five points, 31 percent to 26 percent.

lawhawk Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:46:47pm

re: #18 Sergey Romanov

Millionaires become and stay millionaires by knowing what fights to fight and when not to fight. Settlement made sense, even if the larger issue of justice and dealing News Corp a crippling financial blow for their malfeasance wasn't addressed. (see my #20 above).

HappyWarrior Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:47:47pm

What a pathetic joke Newscorp is.

engineer cat Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:53:02pm

today

The protester loudly shouts a question at Romney: What does he plan to do for the 99 percent, given that he’s part of the one percent? Romney responds:

"Let me tell you something. America is a great nation, because we’re a united nation. And those who are trying to divide the nation, as you’re trying to do here, and as our president is doing, are hurting this country seriously. The right course for America is not to try to divide America, and try and divide us between one and another. it’s to come together as a nation.

And if you’ve got a better model — if you think China’s better, or Russia’s better, or Cuba’s better, or North Korea’s better — I’m glad to hear all about it.

But you know what? America’s right, and you’re wrong."

how dare you mention that mitt is very wealthy!! how dare you!!!

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:54:25pm

I know who should be the conservative savior.

Unearth Fred Thompson!

erik_t Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:56:47pm

re: #24 engineer dog

today

The protester loudly shouts a question at Romney: What does he plan to do for the 99 percent, given that he’s part of the one percent? Romney responds:

'How will you help the rest of us join you in prosperity' = 'How dare you pitt americans against each other'

Magnificent.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:56:51pm

re: #12 Sergey Romanov

A lovely comment under RimJob's endorsement of Newt:

And a follow-up to that:

CSA

The CONSERVATIVE States of America!

Indeed.

HappyWarrior Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:57:27pm

re: #25 Sergey Romanov

I know who should be the conservative savior.

Unearth Fred Thompson!

Thompson offers universal napcare.

Targetpractice Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:57:38pm

re: #24 engineer dog

today

The protester loudly shouts a question at Romney: What does he plan to do for the 99 percent, given that he’s part of the one percent? Romney responds:

"Let me tell you something. America is a great nation, because we’re a united nation. And those who are trying to divide the nation, as you’re trying to do here, and as our president is doing, are hurting this country seriously. The right course for America is not to try to divide America, and try and divide us between one and another. it’s to come together as a nation.

And if you’ve got a better model — if you think China’s better, or Russia’s better, or Cuba’s better, or North Korea’s better — I’m glad to hear all about it.

But you know what? America’s right, and you’re wrong."

how dare you mention that mitt is very wealthy!! how dare you!!!

"Now go away plebe and do not disturb Mighty Caesar again with your concern for the poor!"

Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Thu, Jan 19, 2012 1:58:42pm

re: #29 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

"Now go away plebe and do not disturb Mighty Caesar again with your concern for the poor!"

We'll see where Mitt is sitting on the Ides of November.

HappyWarrior Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:04:48pm

re: #24 engineer dog

today

The protester loudly shouts a question at Romney: What does he plan to do for the 99 percent, given that he’s part of the one percent? Romney responds:

"Let me tell you something. America is a great nation, because we’re a united nation. And those who are trying to divide the nation, as you’re trying to do here, and as our president is doing, are hurting this country seriously. The right course for America is not to try to divide America, and try and divide us between one and another. it’s to come together as a nation.

And if you’ve got a better model — if you think China’s better, or Russia’s better, or Cuba’s better, or North Korea’s better — I’m glad to hear all about it.

But you know what? America’s right, and you’re wrong."

how dare you mention that mitt is very wealthy!! how dare you!!!

Yeah it's either America or North Korea, Mitt. Get real asshole. Could this guy be any more out of touch?

William of Orange Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:05:30pm

HERE IS YOUR PRE-SOPA/PIPA APPETIZER!!

Megaupload raided by the FBI!!

SanFranciscoZionist Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:06:46pm

re: #24 engineer dog

today

The protester loudly shouts a question at Romney: What does he plan to do for the 99 percent, given that he’s part of the one percent? Romney responds:

"Let me tell you something. America is a great nation, because we’re a united nation. And those who are trying to divide the nation, as you’re trying to do here, and as our president is doing, are hurting this country seriously. The right course for America is not to try to divide America, and try and divide us between one and another. it’s to come together as a nation.

And if you’ve got a better model — if you think China’s better, or Russia’s better, or Cuba’s better, or North Korea’s better — I’m glad to hear all about it.

But you know what? America’s right, and you’re wrong."

how dare you mention that mitt is very wealthy!! how dare you!!!

Mitt, if you don't want people to notice you're wealthy, don't try to place $10,000 wagers in public.

Newt is also rich, but he had the common sense to say "I can't afford that!"

Petero1818 Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:08:18pm

re: #24 engineer dog

today

The protester loudly shouts a question at Romney: What does he plan to do for the 99 percent, given that he’s part of the one percent? Romney responds:

"Let me tell you something. America is a great nation, because we’re a united nation. And those who are trying to divide the nation, as you’re trying to do here, and as our president is doing, are hurting this country seriously. The right course for America is not to try to divide America, and try and divide us between one and another. it’s to come together as a nation.

And if you’ve got a better model — if you think China’s better, or Russia’s better, or Cuba’s better, or North Korea’s better — I’m glad to hear all about it.

But you know what? America’s right, and you’re wrong."

how dare you mention that mitt is very wealthy!! how dare you!!!

Yes. America is right. There are no new ideas. Only choices between a trickle down free market economy and Kim Jong Il's fetishist communist experiment. Are you in or are you out comrade?

SanFranciscoZionist Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:08:24pm

re: #29 Targetpractice, Worst of Both Worlds

"Now go away plebe and do not disturb Mighty Caesar again with your concern for the poor!"

King Louis XVI: What did he say?
Mademoiselle Rimbaud: He said, "The poor ain't so bad."
King Louis XVI: [shocked] "The poor ain't so bad?" Huh, you're lucky he's still alive!

darthstar Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:10:06pm

re: #31 HappyWarrior

Yeah it's either America or North Korea, Mitt. Get real asshole. Could this guy be any more out of touch?

I was hoping for Soviet era Russia. When I was a kid, I'd see pictures of bread lines on TV and think, I love bread! They must have awesome bread in the USSR!

HappyWarrior Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:11:12pm

re: #36 darthstar

I was hoping for Soviet era Russia. When I was a kid, I'd see pictures of bread lines on TV and think, I love bread! They must have awesome bread in the USSR!

They have vodka in Russia too. Seriously fuck Romney for continuing to perpetuate the idea that if you expect people like him to pay a honest share in taxes you want a Stalinist helllhole.

engineer cat Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:15:58pm

mitt's emotionally fragile and defensive attitude about his financial situation, in addition to his pitiful efforts to present himself as a normal guy who "is afraid of getting a pink slip", will just kill him in the general

HappyWarrior Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:17:44pm

re: #38 engineer dog

mitt's emotionally fragile and defensive attitude about his financial situation, in addition to his pitiful efforts to present himself as a normal guy who "is afraid of getting a pink slip", will just kill him in the general

He is the elitist that Republicans like to accuse Democrats of being.

jaunte Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:38:04pm

settlements totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars

Not much of a deterrent. For the cost of the fines vs. the income from 'scoops', they'll just consider that part of the cost of doing business.

darthstar Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:39:56pm

re: #37 HappyWarrior

They have vodka in Russia too. Seriously fuck Romney for continuing to perpetuate the idea that if you expect people like him to pay a honest share in taxes you want a Stalinist helllhole.

I expect Romney to play the Godwin card before the Florida primary if he doesn't win South Carolina by a comfortable margin this Saturday...followed by some kind of awkward explanation about how he was just trying to identify with a "bunch of old Jews"...

Amory Blaine Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:40:30pm

re: #40 jaunte

Not much of a deterrent. For the cost of the fines vs. the income from 'scoops', they'll just consider that part of the cost of doing business.

A multi billion dollar company giving out hundreds of thousands...Oh my I have the vapors....swoon.

po8crg Fri, Jan 20, 2012 8:59:48am

re: #24 engineer dog

today

The protester loudly shouts a question at Romney: What does he plan to do for the 99 percent, given that he’s part of the one percent? Romney responds:

"Let me tell you something. America is a great nation, because we’re a united nation. And those who are trying to divide the nation, as you’re trying to do here, and as our president is doing, are hurting this country seriously. The right course for America is not to try to divide America, and try and divide us between one and another. it’s to come together as a nation.

And if you’ve got a better model — if you think China’s better, or Russia’s better, or Cuba’s better, or North Korea’s better — I’m glad to hear all about it.

But you know what? America’s right, and you’re wrong."

how dare you mention that mitt is very wealthy!! how dare you!!!

To which the answer is "Why are you trying to divide America between gay Americans and Christian Americans, then?" (or something similar but better phrased).

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Murdoch Company Admits Knowing About Phone Hacking, Concealing and Destroying Evidence

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