Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service has pressed new charges against former News International editors Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson concerning illegal payments to public officials for news tips. They maintain their innocence.
Prosecutors say Coulson, who was editor of the now shuttered News of the World, and royal editor Clive Goodman were slapped with two counts of conspiracy for allegedly making illegal payments to get confidential information about the royal family.
In a statement, Alison Levitt, director of public prosecutions said:
“We have concluded, following a careful review of the evidence that Clive Goodman and Andy Coulson should be charged with two conspiracies. The allegations relate to the request and authorization of payments to public officials in exchange for information, including a palace phone directory known as the ‘green book’ containing contact details for the royal family and members of the household.”
Brooks, while editor of The Sun is charged with authorizing illegal payments to a British defense official, while she edited The Sun.
A court date has not been set.
The charges stem from Scotland Yard’s Operation Elveden that was launched in the aftermath of the phone hacking scandal and has resulted in the arrest of 52 journalists, defense officials and policemen.