Rupert Murdoch assembles US legal team over phone-hacking scandal

Appointment of litigation veteran Brendan Sullivan suggests News Corp boss is readying for bitter legal battle in America


Rupert Murdoch is assembling a team of US lawyers with expertise in fighting large federal criminal cases, suggesting he is readying himself for a bitter legal battle in America as a result of the phone-hacking scandal.

At the centre of the team is Brendan Sullivan, one of America's most experienced lawyers, who over 40 years in litigation has acquired a reputation for taking on difficult and sensitive cases. He represented Oliver North, the US marine corps officer, in congressional hearings over the Iran-Contra affair.

At the time of the hearings in 1987, Sullivan was described by the Washington Post as "the legal equivalent of nuclear war". A fellow lawyer said: "He asks no quarter and gives no quarter."

Sullivan describes himself as a specialist in "high-profile criminal litigation", whose typical clients include major companies involved in "criminal investigations, litigation or government regulatory matters". He is the author of Techniques for Dealing with Pending Criminal Charges or Criminal Investigations.

Sullivan was probably brought on board by Murdoch last week on the recommendation of Joel Klein, the former US assistant attorney general who the News Corporation chief has entrusted with leading its internal investigation into the phone-hacking scandal.

Klein's wife, Nicole Seligman, who is now the top lawyer at Sony, used to work for Sullivan's firm, Williams & Connolly, in Washington.

The appointment of Sullivan – revealed last week by the New York Times's Dealbook blog – is being seen as an indication that Murdoch is preparing for the worst. In the UK, News International has already set aside about £20m in preparation for compensation payments to victims of its phone-hacking activities, and pressure is now building in the US for criminal and civil legal action.

The FBI has already launched an investigation into allegations that News of the World journalists tried to obtain phone records of 9/11 victims, and several prominent members of Congress have called for an inquiry into News Corp under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act that penalises US-based firms for bribery abroad.

more
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/18/rupert-murdoch-us-legal...

Views: 150

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Murdoch whistle-blower Sean Hoare has just been found dead in his a...

The Guardian reports that former News of the World showbiz reporter, the first named journalist to allege that Andy Coulson was aware of phone hacking at the newspaper, has been found dead at his home.

Police say they are not treating his death as suspicious.

RSS

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted a blog post

What was the Significance of the F-94 C and What role in History?

 It’s July 19, 1952 over White House forbidden airspace and Captain William Patterson observes…See More
20 hours ago
tjdavis posted a video

FLUORIDEGATE: An American Tragedy. a film by Dr. David Kennedy

FLUORIDEGATE: An American Tragedy, is a feature documentary that reveals the tragedy of how government, industry and trade associations protect and promote a...
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Rendezvous With The Unknown

Rendezvous With the Unknown Chapter I It was about 9:00 am when I received a text on my phone from…See More
yesterday
cheeki kea replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
"ah ha - a Tartarian cuisine component lurks inside good old Tartar Sauce. Who would have thought.…"
Saturday
tjdavis posted a blog post
Saturday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Shadows in the Wind

If you think that life is but a game you can winYou’re just a shadow in the windConveniently…See More
Friday
Doc Vega posted a blog post
Thursday
tjdavis posted a photo
Thursday
james will is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Thursday
Burbia replied to cheeki kea's discussion Tartaria
Thursday
Burbia posted a video

Mossad: we create a pretend world, we are a global production company... the world is our stage

60 Minutes interviews alleged Mossad agent"we create a pretend world, we are a global production company......the world is our stage."_______________________...
Thursday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Alvin II Encounter: Was There A Living Dinosaur Involved?

The year is 1965 in the Caribbean islands at a 5-thousand-foot depth in the dark Atlantic waters.…See More
Tuesday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Dec 15
rlionhearted_3 posted photos
Dec 15
Burbia posted a video

All In The Family | Mike Meets Archie For The First Time | The Norman Lear Effect

Gloria (Sally Struthers) has a new boyfriend called Michael (Rob Reiner) and she is very excited to introduce him to her parents (Carroll O'Connor and Jean S...
Dec 15
Shawn H is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Dec 15
Doc Vega posted a photo

entitlement

Congress makes Social Security that we paid in our whole lives into to some government giveaway and…
Dec 14
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Death Threats for Assisting ICE?

An Idaho Bar Helped ICE And Faced This Sick Backlash From DemocratsDecember 10, 20254 minute read…See More
Dec 14
tjdavis posted videos
Dec 14
Sandy posted a video

'They’re Waiting for Us to Die': Area 51 Veterans Plead for Trump’s Help | Elizabeth Vargas Reports

Congress quietly killed the one fix that could have helped America’s “Area 51 veterans” prove where they served — and get the care they say they’ve earned.WA...
Dec 13

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted