Murdoch Meltdown

[BigV]

the chief of police for the city of london has resigned.

This is apparently due to the criticisms leveled at his officers for their part in this unfolding scandal over phone hacking.

This story seems to still be in the expanding stage, more people are getting splattered with more shit. Will David Cameron escape unscathed? Intact even?

[classicman]

This is getting much larger as time goes on. Imma bettin there are some REAL nervous peeps over here too, V.

[ZenGum]

So, who is the bigger crook: Murdoch or Assange?

[classicman]

News of the World phone-hacking whistleblower found dead

Sean Hoare, the former News of the World showbiz reporter who was the first named journalist to allege Andy Coulson was aware of phone hacking by his staff, has been found dead, the Guardian has learned.

Hoare, who worked on the Sun and the News of the World with Coulson before being dismissed for drink and drugs problems, is said to have been found dead at his Watford home.

Hertfordshire police would not confirm his identity, but the force said in a statement: "At 10.40am today [Monday 18 July] police were called to Langley Road, Watford, following the concerns for the welfare of a man who lives at an address on the street. Upon police and ambulance arrival at a property, the body of a man was found. The man was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after.

"The death is currently being treated as unexplained, but not thought to be suspicious. Police investigations into this incident are ongoing."

Hoare first made his claims in a New York Times investigation into the phone-hacking allegations at the News of the World.

Link
The timing of this is just too bizarre...

[glatt]

This whole story is bizarre.

[DanaC]

Bloody hell. I haven't listened to any news today. Gad, ye can't turn yer back on this story for five minites...

[classicman]

Cameron is cutting his African trip short to come home ...

and another cop resigned...

This is moving pretty quickly.

[Aliantha]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

So, who is the bigger crook: Murdoch or Assange?

we're all crooks down here.

[ZenGum]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

we're all crooks down here.

And Lulzsec just hacked The Sun's website and redirected it to their twitter feed. Seems the Times was offline for a while too.

[tw]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Gad, ye can't turn yer back on this story for five minites...

You would be too young to remember Watergate. Once Judge Sirica had one Watergate burglar spilling beans, the avalanche began. The Saturday Night massacre at the time started to get scary. Many people were taking precautions; murder was an option.

By the time the Supreme Court was involved, Chief Justice Burger made plans in case Nixon used the Army to occupy the Supreme Court building. He did not expect it. But with things moving so quickly, the powers that be in Washington started making contingency plans. Even the Sec of Defense ordered the Joint Chiefs to ignore any command to launch nuclear missiles unless confirmed by the Secretary. Even that action was considered possible – things were moving that fast.

This scandal has too many people at highest levels too fully involved. Do we know if Princess Diana was even monitored? Considering Murdoch’s ethics, that would be consistent with what Nixon did in Watergate.

Head of Dow Jones (in the US) has also resigned. Apparently this scandel also involves powerful people in America.

Does Murdoch have an enemies list? Who should be paid to get on it?

[DanaC]

I doubt they'll find anything specifically related to Di's death. That'll all have been destroyed during the various trials and enquiries at the time (I'm guessing).

I don't think even the NoTW nutcases would have been mad enough to keep records of having essentially hounded the Princess of Wales to her death.

The terrifying thing with this is that it seems to have been such an accepted part of the job. That former features deputy ed, in the video clip, clearly saw nothing wrong with listening to people's messages. He seems to think that's an acceptable tactic in digging into people's private lives. And also that covering celeb's coke habits and marital affairs was a 'bit of fun' despite the wreckage of families that left behind.

The links to the top of the police service and the government are fascinating. I think we all (the British public) assumed he had fingers in every level of government, but I think the extent of police corruption has schocked us. That some police would take bribes from reporters isn't that shocking. There will always be an element of personal corruption in any organisation of people. But that it went so high and deep. Wow.

Really not sure what to think about the guy who just died. I'm not generally a conspiracy theory nut, but the timing isn't great. I really want to believe the assurances we got over Doctor Kelly's death too, but I'm not entirely sure I trust the people offering that assurance.

[DanaC]

The committee asking questions of the Murdochs can be viewed live now at:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/24596546/




Interactive map of key players here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/inte...ho-interactive

[DanaC]

Is it just me, or does James Murdoch sound an awful lot like Lex Luther?

[tw]

Apparently the Murdoch organization freely used G. Gordon Liddy types. Because those types are so ethical. Everyone has reason to be concerned. It’s not coincidental that the head of Dow Jones in America also had to resign. We just don't yet know the details.

[DanaC]

lol

Rupert Murdoch's just been hit in the face with a 'custard pie'/plate of shaving foam, by a protestor.

The police being brilliantly effective at stopping such incidents occurring.