Murdoch could be jailed for “life of the Parliament” if guilty of contempt

James Murdoch faces a maximum sentence of being “committed to prison during the life of the Parliament” if he is found to have misled the culture, media and sport select committee. Murdoch has effectively been accused of lying by former News of the World editor Colin Myler and ex-NotW lawyer Tom Crone, who claim he was fully aware of the hush money payout to phone hack victim Gordon Taylor.

James-Murdoch In 2008, the Professional Football Association chief executive received a £700,000 out of court settlement to buy his silence in an attempt to bury the extent of the phone hacking scandal.

Myler and Crone now say that, in his evidence to the select committee:

“James Murdoch’s recollection of what he was told when agreeing to settle the Gordon Taylor litigation was mistaken.”

The claims echo those made by Myler exactly two years ago, in evidence to the same committee. Myler said Crone, who also gave evidence in July 2009, advised him after taking legal advice that News International should settle the Taylor phone hacking case.

He added:

“James Murdoch was apprised of the situation and agreed with our recommendation to settle… It was an agreed collective decision.”

As Murdoch was not under oath, he cannot be tried for perjury; however, the “Guide for witnesses giving written or oral evidence to a House of Commons select committee” (pdf) does state:

“The protection which absolute privilege gives to those preparing written evidence and to witnesses must not be abused. In particular, witnesses should answer questions put to them by a committee carefully, fully and honestly. Deliberately attempting to mislead a committee is a contempt of the House, which the House has the power to punish.”

Adding:

“The House of Commons has emphasised the obligations on witnesses to be honest and open in the evidence which they give to committees.

“Knowingly to mislead a Committee is a contempt of the House. If you have become aware that you need to make corrections of any matters of fact or interpretation to ensure that the final record of what you said to the Committee is accurate and complete, you should submit a separate note which will be appended to the evidence either as a footnote or as a freestanding memorandum…

“The final decision on the admissibility of any proposed amendments rests with the Committee. Although the evidence was taken in public, you should not make any public reference to this transcript without indicating clearly that it is an uncorrected document, and that the final form of its publication has not yet been approved by the Committee.”

Committee chair John Whittingdale has asked Murdoch to respond to Myler and Crone’s allegations, and “clairify” his position – though he is standing firm, News Corp releasing a statement insisting:

“James Murdoch stands by his testimony to the select committee.”

As the BBC reports:

“Any action taken by either a Member of Parliament or a member of the public which obstructs or impedes either Parliament in the performance of its functions, or its members or staff in the performance of their duties, is a contempt of Parliament.

“Examples of contempt include giving false evidence to a parliamentary committee, threatening a Member of Parliament, forging documents and attempting to bribe members. The Commons has the power to order anyone who has committed a contempt of Parliament to appear at the Bar of the House and to punish the offender.”

With the maximum punishment, as stated at the top, being jail for the lifetime of the Parliament. The last stranger to be called to the Bar was the late Sir John Junor, former editor-in-chief of the Sunday Express, in 1957.

http://twitter.com/mustberead/status/94336959438274560 MustBeRead

James Murdoch could be jailed for “life of the Parliament” if guilty of contempt, blogs @ShamikDas http://t.co/eJHCNug
http://twitter.com/trouse11/status/94338380623642625 Tom Rouse

James Murdoch could be jailed for “life of the Parliament” if guilty of contempt, blogs @ShamikDas http://t.co/eJHCNug
http://twitter.com/paul0evans1/status/94338666612273152 Paul Evans

Murdoch could be jailed for “life of the Parliament” if guilty of contempt http://bit.ly/ofK34y
http://twitter.com/jamesmills1984/status/94339116736593920 James Mills

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://t.co/b72inbR reports @ShamikDas #hackgate
http://twitter.com/prateekbuch/status/94339595654803456 Prateek Buch

RT @leftfootfwd: James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://bit.ly/pvV0kV @ShamikDas #hackgate
http://twitter.com/realdavidcarter/status/94339652579893249 David Carter

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://t.co/b72inbR reports @ShamikDas #hackgate
http://twitter.com/archerkath/status/94339692438355968 Kath Archer

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://t.co/b72inbR reports @ShamikDas #hackgate
http://twitter.com/davidahilljr/status/94339763028496385 David A Hill Jr

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://t.co/b72inbR reports @ShamikDas #hackgate
http://twitter.com/tamsinchan/status/94339818720473088 Tamsin

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt | @samikdas @leftfootfwd http://bit.ly/pvV0kV #hackgate
http://twitter.com/lukebozier/status/94340508901572608 Luke Bozier

Witch hunt! RT @leftfootfwd: James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://t.co/b72inbR
http://twitter.com/nhsspy/status/94341508567805954 Watching You

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://t.co/b72inbR reports @ShamikDas #hackgate
http://twitter.com/geoffreyawalker/status/94341710921990144 Geoff Walker

RT @leftfootfwd: Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt http://t.co/MwjpnGA
http://twitter.com/andy_s_64/status/94342493612683264 Andy S

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://t.co/b72inbR reports @ShamikDas #hackgate
http://twitter.com/c_a_jonestechno/status/94342500411637760 CAROLE JONES

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://t.co/b72inbR reports @ShamikDas #hackgate
http://twitter.com/benedictrogers/status/94344797891985408 Benedict Rogers

James Murdoch could be jailed for “life of the Parliament” if guilty of contempt, blogs @ShamikDas http://t.co/eJHCNug
http://twitter.com/idlevic/status/94353276606230528 Victoria

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://t.co/b72inbR reports @ShamikDas #hackgate
http://twitter.com/centrepartin/status/94354562839887872 Martin Parks

Take him to the Tower –> RT @Paul0Evans1 Murdoch could be jailed for “life of the Parliament” if guilty of contempt http://bit.ly/ofK34y
http://twitter.com/hunginternet/status/94355759843909632 Hung Nguyen

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt | @samikdas @leftfootfwd http://bit.ly/pvV0kV #hackgate
Ash

How delicious: Baby Murdoch imprisoned for the lifetime of the Parliament, thus incentivising Daddy Murdoch to shorten the lifetime of the Parliament by undermining the Coalition. You couldn’t make it up.
http://twitter.com/unitonehifi/status/94361031484252160 chris star

Murdoch could be jailed for “life of the Parliament” if guilty of contempt
http://j.mp/mYmuPa
#hackgate
http://twitter.com/double_karma/status/94363174278676481 Double.Karma

Murdoch could be jailed for “life of the Parliament” if guilty of contempt
http://j.mp/mYmuPa
#hackgate
http://prestononlinenews.co.uk/tom-watson-mp-asks-police-to-investigate-james-murdoch-bbc-news/ Tom Watson MP asks police to investigate James Murdoch – BBC News | Preston News, Weather, Jobs, and Hotels

[...] 'Mistaken' Over HackingSky NewsMurdoch could be jailed for “life of the Parliament” if guilty of contemptLeft Foot ForwardKey 103 Manchester -The Guardianall 1,019 news [...]
http://twitter.com/simonzec23/status/94365125582143488 Simon Zec

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://t.co/b72inbR reports @ShamikDas #hackgate
http://twitter.com/rockythehamster/status/94365819173224448 Rocky Hamster

RT @leftfootfwd: Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt http://t.co/Lxdo45y
http://twitter.com/adamvanner/status/94367922968993793 Adam Vanner

Murdoch could be jailed for “life of the Parliament” if guilty of contempt
http://j.mp/mYmuPa
#hackgate
http://twitter.com/realjackbarker/status/94371841874989056 Jack Barker

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://t.co/b72inbR reports @ShamikDas #hackgate
Anon E Mouse

Ash – Presuming he is actually guilty of it I have to agree with you.

I would say that if Labour think News International are going to leave the party alone then they are going to be in for a shock.

So far the only party to have benefitted from this scandal have been the Lib Dem’s who have gone up 2% in the polls.

Labour and the Tories are exactly where they were pre scandal on 42% and 36% respectively which I assume may be something of a shock to people being force fed this story every time they put the BBC on…
http://twitter.com/martinmcgrath/status/94379356616531968 Martin McGrath

If James Murdoch lied he could go to prison for life of parliament http://bit.ly/ntYsOP Bet that would bring a quick election!
http://twitter.com/kendrafallon/status/94380961835388928 Kendra Fallon

James Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt: http://t.co/b72inbR reports @ShamikDas #hackgate
http://twitter.com/samgoodby/status/94381674690912256 Sam Goodby

Surely a good reason to hope this Parliament doesn't end until 2015: http://t.co/0doqwPe
http://twitter.com/houseoftwits/status/94385019883229184 House Of Twits

RT @samgoodby Surely a good reason to hope this Parliament doesn't end until 2015: http://t.co/0doqwPe
Michael

“Mudroch” (first para) – wonderful!
Dave Citizen

Hopefully, such concentrations of private power and wealth will soon be confined to a reducing number of dictatorships and rogue states where it is to be expected.

This could be the start of our very own western spring!
http://twitter.com/joshivani/status/94519250898792449 Shivani Joshi

RT @leftfootfwd: Murdoch could be jailed for ''life of the Parliament'' if guilty of contempt http://t.co/03GuZvq
http://twitter.com/politic_animal/status/94520114417901568 Political Animal

James Murdoch 'could be jailed for life of parliament' http://is.gd/UxwF2O Wow. Way to get me wanting the coalition to go to term.
http://twitter.com/juliahines/status/94521145834995712 Julia Hines

James Murdoch 'could be jailed for life of parliament' http://is.gd/UxwF2O Wow. Way to get me wanting the coalition to go to term.
http://twitter.com/liquidindian/status/94521377582882816 Alan Miller

James Murdoch 'could be jailed for life of parliament' http://is.gd/UxwF2O Wow. Way to get me wanting the coalition to go to term.
http://twitter.com/madincroydon/status/94521673440698368 Glyn Lewis

James Murdoch 'could be jailed for life of parliament' http://is.gd/UxwF2O Wow. Way to get me wanting the coalition to go to term.
http://adamenglebright.wordpress.com/2011/07/23/links-for-2011-07-22/ links for 2011-07-22 « Adam Englebright

[...] Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt | Left Foot For… [...]
Leon Wolfson

Mouse – Yes, the rest of the press is trying to spin this down for all they’re worth. Time to call in the fumigators! (and no, I don’t care if you’re also in the foundations).
http://twitter.com/thedeadduck/status/134602432398376960 Molly

If #Murdoch is found to have misled Parliament, he could be jailed "for the life of the Parliament" http://t.co/YPXRGE7u #phonehacking
http://twitter.com/mediareformuk/status/134602665513586688 mediareformUK

If #Murdoch is found to have misled Parliament, he could be jailed "for the life of the Parliament" http://t.co/YPXRGE7u #phonehacking
http://twitter.com/kaalgroup/status/134602696085880832 KAAL Group

If #Murdoch is found to have misled Parliament, he could be jailed "for the life of the Parliament" http://t.co/YPXRGE7u #phonehacking
http://twitter.com/firingback/status/134603009920475137 Colin Smith

If #Murdoch is found to have misled Parliament, he could be jailed "for the life of the Parliament" http://t.co/YPXRGE7u #phonehacking
http://twitter.com/samanthaj494/status/134603087557042176 Samantha Johnston

If #Murdoch is found to have misled Parliament, he could be jailed "for the life of the Parliament" http://t.co/YPXRGE7u #phonehacking
http://twitter.com/greenleftie/status/134603141781004288 Michael Bater

RT @leftfootfwd: Murdoch could be jailed for "life of the Parliament" if guilty of contempt http://t.co/SCtEkiOU
http://twitter.com/silveradical/status/134605836151554050 Alastair Sutherland

If #Murdoch is found to have misled Parliament, he could be jailed "for the life of the Parliament" http://t.co/YPXRGE7u #phonehacking
http://twitter.com/awesomealan/status/134607233580408832 Alan Crowther

If #Murdoch is found to have misled Parliament, he could be jailed "for the life of the Parliament" http://t.co/YPXRGE7u #phonehacking
http://twitter.com/rk505/status/134609821205925888 Ravi Kumar

If #Murdoch is found to have misled Parliament, he could be jailed "for the life of the Parliament" http://t.co/YPXRGE7u #phonehacking
http://twitter.com/andy__martin/status/134610087737171969 Andrew Martin

If #Murdoch is found to have misled Parliament, he could be jailed "for the life of the Parliament" http://t.co/YPXRGE7u #phonehacking
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/11/james-murdoch-culture-media-sport-select-committee-news-international-phone-hacking-second-hearing/ Capo di tutti capi plays dumb when quizzed about Murdoch mafia’s “omerta” | Left Foot Forward

[...] Murdoch could be jailed for “life of the Parliament” if guilty of contempt – Shamik Das, July 22nd [...]