Continuing the fallout (or the detonations) from the Phone Hacking/Bribery/Influence peddling scandal currently engulfing Britain (and soon appearing at a hearing room near you), comes an appearance by Prime Minister David Cameron to an emergency session of Parliament, cutting short his visit to South Africa in order to attempt quelling of a growing concern in the Government.
What did he know and when did he know it? Hard to say at the moment. How cozy was his relationship with disgraced former editor of News Of The World and Communications Director Andy Coulson? How much influence has been given with relation to the proposed BskyB takeover?
Cameron, along similar lines to the Murdoch's and Brooks, gives a hearty "I knew nothing" when asked repeatedly and at times contentiously. Prior to this appearance Cameron pointed to Coulson as a good and trusted friend. On this particular day, Coulson was reduced to the role of Anathema and Cameron was twisting himself in knots to make a point.
Here is a wrap-up of the days activities via BBC Radio 4's PM Program. And as a bonus I've included the Prime Ministers Statement and resultant Q&A session, or free-for-all as it sounds.
The free-for-all starts here (all two hours worth):
UPDATE: John Amato;
As Rupertgate continues in the UK, more hacking cases are coming out from News Corp in the US.
News Corporation admitted in 2009 to hacking U.S. rival’s website
News Corporation admitted at a trial in 2009 that computers at its U.S. marketing division, News America Marketing, hacked into the secure website of a rival U.S.-based company 11 times, according to Bloomberg.
The FBI is currently investigating allegations that News Corp, the parent company of Fox News and The Wall Street Journal, attempted to bribe police and hack into the cell phones of victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack.
Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) wrote Tuesday to Attorney General Eric Holder and FBI Director Robert Mueller to highlight the hacking allegation made by Floorgraphics Inc.
Floorgraphics claimed in a lawsuit that News America Marketing stole business from the company by hacking into Floorgraphics website between October 2003 to January 2004. The company agreed to dismiss the case after receiving a $29.5 million payment from News America Marketing.
A lawyer for News America Marketing admitted during that trial that someone hacked into Floorgraphics website “through a firewall at News America Marketing headquarters,” but that the company did not know who did it.
“As the Department of Justice and FBI examine the recent hacking allegations involving News Corp. and its subsidiaries more closely, I wanted to make sure that you were fully aware of the case of Floorgraphics and News America, as it may be relevant to your current investigation,” Lautenberg wrote (PDF).
What shall be revealed next? We'll have more tomorrow....
