Rupert Murdoch is ready to talk to Parliament about allegations that he was aware that reporters at his newspapers were bribing police and officials in exchange for information.
A spokeswoman for News Corp told TheWrap that Murdoch is eager to face the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, which has voted to bring Murdoch back to answer questions about his potential knowledge of the bribery.
"Mr. Murdoch welcomes the opportunity to return to the Select Committee and answer their questions," a News Corp spokesperson told TheWrap on Tuesday. "He looks forward to clearing up any misconceptions as soon as possible.”
Committee chairman John Whittingdale told Reuters that the committee opted to bring Murdoch back for questioning after a recording leaked last week. On the recording, Murdoch is heard telling staffers at his UK newspaper the Sun that journalists paying police and officials for information is "next to nothing."
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"The committee has voted to ask him to reappear in light of the comments he made to News International staff," Whittingdale said.
A hearing date has not yet been set.
While some have interpreted the comments on the recording, made last March, as an admission that Murdoch was aware that Sun staffers had engaged in bribery, News Corp. has adamantly denied such allegations, calling them "absolutely false."
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"Mr. Murdoch never knew of payments made by Sun staff to police before News Corporation disclosed that to UK Authorities," News Corp said in a statement. "Furthermore, he never said he knew of payments. It’s absolutely false to suggest otherwise."
More to come…