U.S. authorities looking into Murdoch foreign payments

[ProSense]

U.S. authorities looking into Murdoch foreign payments

By Mark Hosenball and Georgina Prodhan

(Reuters) - U.S. authorities are stepping up investigations, including an FBI criminal inquiry, into possible violations by employees of Rupert Murdoch's media empire of a U.S. law banning corrupt payments to foreign officials such as police, law enforcement and corporate sources said.

But U.S. investigators have found little to substantiate allegations of phone hacking inside the United States by Murdoch journalists, the sources added.

The FBI is conducting an investigation into possible criminal violations by Murdoch employees of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a law intended to curb payment of bribes by U.S. companies to foreign officials, a U.S. law enforcement official said.

<...>

If it is found to have violated the FCPA, Murdoch's News Corp, which has its headquarters in New York, could be fined up to $2 million and barred from U.S. government contracts, and individuals who participated in the bribery could face fines of up to $100,000 and a jail sentence of five years.

- more -

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/07/us-usa-murdoch-investigation-idUSTRE81616620120207

[Scalded Nun]

1. Bribe?

Just what constitutes a 'bribe' of a foreign official in the mind of the US justice system? It certainly must be dramatic since all of the bribery of officials taking place in the US on a daily basis is evidently just fine.

I also find it so hard to believe that, given our supposed technological superiority, no evidence of hacking can be found when it has been and is going on all of the time. My take, I offer no proof other than the knowledge that these folks hacked (in England) when they knew what would happen if they got caught. I am supposed to now believe they did not hack here when they knew not much (if anything at all) would happen if they did get caught? I just spit up my coffee.

[loudsue]

7. Well said, and so true.

Murdochs are as corrupt as they are ridiculous....which is pretty darned corrupt. I strongly suspect that either they hacked our politicians phones, or they piggy-backed on Karl Rove's hacking & spying, in order to blackmail politicians into doing their bidding.

There has been more evil covered up in this country in the past 15 years than in the whole 200 years of our history prior to this. Deep evil, which Sibel Edmonds tried to tell people about.

[Kingofalldems]

2. If true, his broadcast license should be revoked.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Which broadcast licence would that be ?

.

[Kingofalldems]

4. Start with FCC licenses for TV stations

[dipsydoodle]

5. Your FCC has no merit or standing in the UK.

The article states : But U.S. investigators have found little to substantiate allegations of phone hacking inside the United States by Murdoch journalists, the sources added. So at least for the time being you can exclude the US too.

Aside from that. the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), is a law intended to curb payment of bribes by U.S. companies to foreign officials which in this instance has yet to be proven - neither of the two police officers previously arrested have been charged to date.

NewsCorp doesn't have or need a licence to operate TV media in the UK : the licence is held by BSkyB in which NewsCorp are simply shareholders.

All this chatter actually achieves from time to time is to lower NewsCorp's share price enabling them to pursue their avowed policy of buying back their own shares at reduced prices. That issue has saved them c. US$3 billion to date. Keep up the good work - Rupert must be proud of you.

[Kingofalldems]

6. 'FBI criminal inquiry' is all about the USA

So I will stand by my statement that Murdoch's FCC license(s) should be revoked if this is true. Don't know what your problem is with that one.

[Left Coast2020]

8. I would not shed a tear at all if Ruperts prize show....

...American Idol is cancelled.

The "Cluster Faux" network contributes to the lowest level of intelligence in this country. Hope the FBI is able to find dirt on these people.