By Greg Hazley
A four-year-old letter written by former News of World correspondent Clive Goodman and released publicly by a U.K. parliamentary committee this week claims that phone hacking was “widely discussed” at editorial meetings at the News Corp. property until a former editor and PR advisor to the U.K. prime minister banned mentions of it.
Andy Coulson, the former editor named in the letter, was hired by Prime Minister David Cameron as a PR aide last year before he quit as the hacking scandal simmered.
Coulson has previously denied any knowledge of hacking at the paper.
The Guardian reported Aug. 16 that the letter confronts Rupert and James Murdoch with the “humiliating prospect” of being recalled before Parliament and says that Goodman’s claims “raise serious questions about Rupert Murdoch’s close friend and adviser, Les Hinton,” who was sent a copy of the letter but did not give it to police.
One member of parliament said the letter “is the most significant piece of evidence that has been revealed so far. It completely removes News International's defence. This is one of the largest cover-ups I have seen in my lifetime."
Goodman served time in prison in 2007 for accessing voice messages of royal family aides. He sent the letter to a News Corp. HR representative after being fired and CCed Hinton.
News Corp. has reiterated that its board has set up a committee to co-operate with the U.K. police investigation and is working with authorities on the ongoing investigation.
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