CNN’s Piers Morgan will testify before the Leveson Inquiry, which is investigating the U.K. phone-hacking scandal and the greater role of the media in society, CNN has confirmed to TheWrap.
Morgan, who has denied allegations that he oversaw or partook in phone hacking, will appear next week.
Morgan’s possible role in the scandal dates to his days as a newspaper editor for a pair of U.K. dailies. He served as editor of News Corp.’s News of the World, the tabloid at the center of the scandal, from 1994 to 1995.
That was before most of the hacking cases, but Morgan was next editor of the Daily Mirror from 1995 to 2004. The scandal remains centered on the World, but many have speculated that hacking was also practiced at other papers.
Back in July, British blogger Guido Fawkes first accused Morgan of condoning hacking when he was in charge of the Mirror. Fawkes initially failed to provide much evidence, citing Morgan’s own book at one point, but in announcing Morgan would testify the blogger published a document with evidence that Morgan seems to know something.
Also Read: British Blogger Claims to Have Piers Morgan Phone-Hacking Evidence
Heather Mills, Paul McCartney’s ex-wife, accused Morgan of listening to a message she left for Sir Paul. Morgan denied those claims and publicly criticized Mills.
Though he has consistently denied any complicity in hacking, as Fawkes' document points out, he has recognized the practice as common. And as the Atlantic Wire, which first confirmed the news, points out, he discussed hacking in a GQ interview in February.