Murdochs Ordered to Testify or Be in Contempt

[Tony_FLADEM]

Source: Bloomberg

Rupert Murdoch and his son James will be in “contempt of Parliament” if they ignore a formal summons to give evidence about the phone-hacking scandal to lawmakers on July 19.

Culture, Media and Sport Committee Chairman John Whittingdale said he had asked the serjeant at arms, Jill Pay, to issue both executives with summons to appear. Ignoring the order would lead to them being in contempt of Parliament, he said.

“We meet on Tuesday at 2.30,” he told reporters in London today after his committee had met in private. “Either they attend or we report their failure to attend to the House. Then we are in uncharted territory.”



Read more: www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-14/murdochs-ordered-to-testify-or-be-in-contempt.html

---

:popcorn:

[ingac70]

1. Pass that popcorn! n/t

[ejpoeta]

2. ha ha

[Canuckistanian]

48. Better use a SWAT team, too

Those guys are a clear and present danger to our democratic way of life.

[City Lights]

3. Get the cuffs ready! eom

[Mosaic]

4. First he refused

Now he's agreed, this is getting good. Make the crooked weasel jump.

[nxylas]

5. But aren't the Murdochs US citizens?

Anyone know what that means in legal terms? I'd have thought a foreign national being found in contempt of Parliament is not the same thing as a British citizen being found in contempt. But then, I'm not a lawyer.

[Downwinder]

51. Dual US/UK citizenship

[LetTimmySmoke]

6. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Roger Ailes and the Koch brothers remain at large though.

[kpete]

7. Murdoch refuses UK summons

Source: Irish Times

Rupert Murdoch has refused a summons by Britain's parliament to answer questions over alleged crimes at one of his newspapers, leaving a senior executive from his media empire to face lawmakers keen to break the media mogul's grip on politics.

British police arrested a ninth suspect, named by media as a senior former editor of Mr Murdoch's News of the World , adding weight to a government call for the media regulator to decide whether his business is fit to run British television stations.

Mr Murdoch has already been forced to close the News of the World and back down on his biggest acquisition plan yet - the takeover of British pay TV operator BSkyB - due to an outcry over allegations reporters accessed private phone messages.

He and his son James, the heir apparent to his NewsCorp empire, have so far stood by executive Rebekah Brooks, who runs its British newspaper arm and was a friend of prime minister David Cameron until he echoed calls for her to go.

Read more: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0714/breaking18.html

---

another link has pics and more:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gI3r8OWDQjsVMuXgNnKakBOCmb6Q?docId=72b752d5d1384cdd9f9b9e25fbee8dde

[fascisthunter]

8. so what happens now?

[nxylas]

9. Somebody else takes the fall, probably

"Hey, I'm running a legitimate business here, some of my guys get a little over-enthusiastic, I don't got no control over dat, capeesh?"

[RKP5637]

10. I guess if one has enough money they just flip off a summons? I don't get it,

these guys wreck havoc and then buy a golden path away from the mess they created. If I refused a summons here I'd probably be sitting in jail.

[fascisthunter]

12. I would like to think he has made too many enemies to get away with his crimes

but due to many actions and inactions I have read about throught he last decade or so, I really have little faith in any justice system. People need to rise up against the wealthy, I see no other way...

[Thav]

13. You're obviously not "too big to be jailed."

[beac]

14. As a US citizen (WORST MISTAKE EVER ON OUR PART) he cannot be

compelled to testify in front of the UK's Parliament. However, he HAS said he'll give evidence in front on the judge-led investigation that is coming up. For that one, he'll be UNDER OATH. (see 12:08 here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2011/jul/14/phone-hacking-scandal-live-coverage)

Is he just buying time and will eventually refuse to appear there too? Probably.

Note that NI CEO Rebekah Brooks WILL have to appear b/c she is a Brit and thus can be compelled by Parliament to testify.

[RKP5637]

16. Thanks! n/t

[beac]

19. You're welcome.

The Guardian is live blogging the scandal every day. It's a good place to keep on top of the developments and, so far, each day brings A LOT of them.

Warning: reading it daily CAN cause blood-boiling, extreme nausea and/or outright astonishment. The things Brooks and the Murdochs, et. al. did to people are truly beyond vile.

[Downwinder]

28. He has dual US/UK citizenship.

[marions ghost]

36. Australian with American Citizenship

NOT a Brit...

However his son James was born in Britain and therefore is a dual British-Australian citizen.

[beac]

37. No, that's JAMES Murdoch (the son) who has dual citizenship.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2011/jul/14/phone-...

Rupert was an Australian citizen until he became a naturalized US citizen in 1985.

James was born in London in 1972 and his mother was Scottish, so I'm not sure where the US half of the equation comes in. Maybe through his US wife?

[marions ghost]

42. James would be a UK-Australian dual citizen

I believe.

UK mother, Australian dad, born in UK.

[beac]

43. Except that he's NOT. Not sure how/why but he is DEFINITELY a

US/UK citizen. News Corp has confirmed this. See my link above at the 3:52 mark.

[muriel_volestrangler]

44. Joint UK/US, apparently

3.52pm: I just spoke to News International and they confirmed that James Murdoch is a dual UK/US citizen.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2011/jul/14/phone-hacking-scandal-live-coverage#block-61

He lived and worked in the US for quite some time - maybe he got US citizenship then?

[marions ghost]

63. He could have gottenUS citizenship when Rupert did I suppose

but when he was born in the UK (1972), Rupert was not a US citizen (1985). I would think that at the time of his birth he had dual Australian/UK citizenship (ie. father and mother's nationality).

Thanks for the info--I'm sure you are correct. I'm just wondering how it happened. I guess we will see what that all means for James.

[ikri]

53. He can't for forced to testify, BUT

A refusal to do so probably wouldn't look so good whilst OFCOM (communications regulator) is questioning whether he's a fit and proper person to run businesses in the UK.

If he was found to no longer be fit & proper he could be forced to divest his interests in all of his UK operations.

[provis99]

58. even the Parliament is confused as to whether Murdoch can be compelled.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/confusion-over-parliaments-power-to-compel-murdochs-to-testify/

I suspect though, that if anyone is in the UK, they are compelled to observe UK law, just as they are in the US.

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. Remember that Karl Rove also flipped off a Congressional summons.

[RKP5637]

18. Yep, that gives one a lot of confidence in justice. n/t

[glinda]

30. USA, home of the "crooked".

[RKP5637]

32. Yep, the end result of runaway unregulated capitalism, greed and

cornered wealth by a couple of percent.

[OnyxCollie]

23. Yes, and during the time Rove/Miers/Bolton

flipped off a Congressional subpoena, John Conyers' wife, Monica, was being investigated by the FBI on corruption charges.

So, when presented the choice of using statutory contempt against Rove et al or using the far more severe inherent contempt (which involves sending the Sergeant at Arms out to capture those unwilling to show and hold them in the Capitol jail until they are willing to speak), Johnny Letter chooses statutory contempt.

Blackmail? Seems like it. (Monica Conyers got three years in prison for corruption, BTW.)

So, is Rupert blackmailing anyone?

Magic 8-Ball says, "Yes."

[CanonRay]

17. He's not a British citizen

so they can't compel him to appear. Unfortunately.

[Downwinder]

29. He has dual UK/US citizenship.

[Lars77]

31. That's even more strange, considering he's from Australia. nt

[beac]

38. It's JAMES Murdoch (the son) who has dual citizenship. n/t

[marions ghost]

40. Right

:popcorn: Since he was born there, James is in the hot seat in Britain.

[marions ghost]

35. Murdoch is an Australian with American citizenship

He is not & never has been a Brit.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[iamthebandfanman]

20. my biggest fear

is that hes had entirely to much time over here to shred and burn

[global1]

21. Hold Him In Contempt And Throw His Ass In Jail......nt

[go west young man]

22. Funny how the British system works.

Julian Assange kept in limbo for allegations of unconsensual sex..
Rupert Murdoch just tells them to fuck off when caught bribing and wiretapping.
Ah isn't true justice sweet.

[JAnthony]

24. A year from now, I predict he will be charged with a crime and

an arrest warrant will be issued. He, of course, will hide somewhere in the USA, and fight extradition tooth and nail.

Sweet!

[Kelvin Mace]

33. I think the UK government should pull his passport NOW

as a preemptive move to quash fleeing to the US and a big extradition fight.

[JAnthony]

62. Now THERE'S a good idea! Does the UK system of laws allow for

that? And wouldn't the US government then be put in the position of fighting the UK for his "rights" to return to the USA, his adopted home, where taxes on people as rich as he is are the LOWEST IN THE CIVILIZED WESTERN WORLD?

Can the UK put all of his holdings into receivership? Essentially hold onto his estimated $50 BILLION net worth, much of it holdings in his worldwide media empire?

Make him fill out a form to get $100 a week for food?

[Uncle Joe]

25. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[Kingofalldems]

26. His FCC license should now be seized.

[reformist2]

27. "Defiance of a parliamentary summons is illegal" - AP

WOW WOW WOW

[salin]

34. after it became clear that James *can* be forced (he has dual citizenship) - both Dad and Son agreed

to come address the committee.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2011/jul/14/phone-hacking-scandal-live-coverage#block-67
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2011/jul/14/phone-hacking-scandal-live-coverage#block-67

[jwirr]

39. Hiding behind his American citizenship when he and his media have

done everything they can to destroy us. Do we have to back him in this move?

[Xithras]

41. Pains me to say it, but yes.

When a foreign government tries to get its hands on an American citizen, I don't want our government to be selectively protecting them based on their political ideology.

For better or worse, Rupert Murdoch is an American citizen and, as such, is protected by our laws and government. The UK government can request an interview with him here, but unless he's actually charged with a crime, they have no power to compel his presence in Britain.

Maybe this will teach the British an important lesson about the pitfalls of having their media organizations owned by multinationals who aren't answerable to their government.

[beac]

45. It will be interesting to see if US citizen Rupert leaves his US/UK citizen

son and heir-apparent James holding the bag and taking the fall. :popcorn:

[Xithras]

47. Is James Murdoch in the UK?

If not, it may not matter. The United States does not, and never has, recognized dual citizenship. Other countries do, but we pointedly do not (this is a major bone of contention with Hispanics in my part of California, many of whom hold dual Mexican/US citizenship). While you can hold dual citizenship, U.S. law pretty much ignores the rights and responsibilities of the other country.

The United States has gone so far as to refuse the right to request consular assistance to people with dual-nationality. There have been numerous cases where naturalized Americans with foreign citizenship have been accused of crimes and have requested consular assistance from their counties of origin. We don't allow them to have it because, according to our laws, once you're naturalized you no longer have any legal connection to another country.

If James Murdoch is in the U.S., he'll be protected just like his father. Because he has U.S. citizenship, we won't recognize the authority of the British government to compel him to leave the country.

[jwirr]

49. Is James a US citizen?

[Xithras]

52. Yes, it's my understanding that he is.

It's being reported that he holds dual US/UK citizenship.

[beac]

55. J. Murdoch is in the UK and will appear before the Commons on Tuesday.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/14/phone-hacking-murdochs-commons


What is still not clear to me is HOW James Murdoch has US citizenship (dual, as recognized by UK or sole, as recognized by US). He was born in London to Rupert, who was still an Australian citizen at the time and his Scottish wife. Perhaps the younger Murdoch became a US citizen at the same time as his dad (James would have been 15 at the time)? Or maybe through his US wife?


edited for typo

[Xithras]

56. He might have become a U.S. citizen for the same reason as his dad.

U.S. laws ban foreigners from owning American media outlets. Rupert Murdoch is pretty open about the fact that he became an American just to bypass this rule.

James is his "heir apparent", which means that he'd need American citizenship in order to inherit his fathers American media assets.

[beac]

59. Bet he's wishing he'd renounced that UK citizenship altogether about now.

Even though the US doesn't recognize his "dual" citizenship, the UK does and thus he's compelled to testify on Tuesday. :popcorn:

[reformist2]

57. I'll believe it when I see it.

Do be surprised by a last minute no-show.

[RedCloud]

46. Off with 'is head!

[aquart]

61. No, Rupert. Parliament isn't Congress.

[backtomn]

50. Be careful what you wish for......

The assumption here is that the Murdoch's will be embarrassed and skewered by Pariament. Unfortunately, these are politicians. Here in the U.S., they generally can't shut up and ask a question, particularly if the camera is going. If they don't focus the issues at hand....instead of re-election....they will probably look stupid and make the Murdoch's look good. I would prefer that this be in COURT, not in front of politicians.

[beac]

60. I think you'll find it works quite differently in the UK. Every week they have the PMQ

(Prime Minister's Questions) wherein the PM stands before the Parliament and answers questions. In the hearing the other day, 78 MPs asked David Cameron a question. They have also been grilling other participants in the previous investigations into the hacking all week. British MPs have no problem asking questions and they have the force of a united-in-outrage British public behind them.


edited for typo

[banned from Kos]

54. Reuters tax reporter "I was 100% dead wrong" on News Corp tax refund

http://blogs.reuters.com/mediafile/2011/07/14/how-i-misread-news-corps-taxes/

FWIW - this is good news.

Turns out News Corp is not fleecing the US Govt for $4.6 billion as reported.

[No Elephants]

64. He's always been in contempt. Oh, wait, I meant "contemptible," not "in contempt."

never mind.