James Murdoch Steps Down As Executive Chairman Of News International

[SunsetDreams]

James Murdoch has stepped down as executive chairman of News International, the British arm of News Corp., the company announced Wednesday. Murdoch, who was once seen as the heir apparent to his father Rupert at the head of News Corp., has now lost a key position within the company.

News Corp. cast the move as stemming from Murdoch's relocation to New York, and Rupert Murdoch said his son would "continue to assume a variety of essential corporate leadership mandates." But the reshuffling will be widely seen as a reflection of James Murdoch's deeply diminished stature following wave after wave of damaging allegations about his
complicity in News Corp.'s still-simmering phone hacking scandal.

Murdoch has long denied having any knowledge of the widespread nature of phone hacking within the News of the World tabloid. But a series of testimonies and released documents have put him ever-closer to a crucial 2008 meeting in which the former editor and legal director of the paper have sworn he was informed that criminality had been out of control within the organization. Murdoch was even sent a memo detailing the extent of phone hacking within the NOTW, but has stated he did not scroll down enough on his BlackBerry to read it.

The full statement from News Corp. at link

[lonestarnot]

1. What he is imploding with lies?

[malaise]

2. One down

Many more to go

[Botany]

3. I hope he and his dad end up in jail

n/t