Confirming what has been anticipated for some time, the UK Commons’ culture, media and sport select committee voted Tuesday to recall James Murdoch, chairman and CEO of News Corp. Europe & Asia, for a second testimony regarding the phone hacking scandal.
Murdoch appeared beside his father Rupert, Chairman and CEO of News Corp., in July, but two former employees have since accused him of misleading Parliament.
Colin Myler, the final editor of the News of the World, the now-shuttered British tabloid that was owned by News Corp., and Tom Crone, the scandal-ridden paper’s chief legal adviser, both testified that James Murdoch had seen the “for Neville” e-mail, which all but confirmed hacking was practiced by more than a single rogue reporter.
Also read: News Corp. Shareholders Add to Suit – Say Phone Hacking Is Only Latest Impropriety
Executives at News International, News Corp.’s British publishing subsidiary that oversaw the News of the World, had long maintained that hacking was an isolated problem.
Murdoch told Parliament in July he was unaware of the e-mail. He has also denied that that e-mail motivated his approval of an out of court settlement made to the former head of the Professional Football players Association, Gordon Taylor.
These doubts surrounding his testimony led many to suspect it was just a matter of time before Murdoch would be called back, though when his appearance will occur is unclear.
Murdoch recently declined to accept his $6M bonus because of the scandal, which produced further documentary evidence Tuesday as well.
News Group Newspaper, a subsidiary of News International, discovered two large caches of documents after orders to conduct an internal search.