Phone hacking: Rebekah Brooks’ lawyer’s statement
Rebekah Brooks’ laywer has apparently released a statement this afternoon claiming she is ‘not guilty of any criminal offence’.
The statement follows Brooks’ arrest yesterday, as part of the Metropolitan Police investigations into phone hacking and corruption.
The position of Rebekah Brooks can be simply stated. She is not guilty of any criminal offence. The position of the Metropolitan Police is less easy to understand. Despite arresting her yesterday and conducting an interview process lasting nine hours, they put no allegations to her, and showed her no documents connecting her with any crime.
They will in due course have to give an account of their actions, and in particular their decision to arrest her, with the enormous reputational damage that this has involved.
In the meantime, Mrs Brooks has an appointment with the culture, media and sport select committee tomorrow. She remains willing to attend and to answer questions. It is a matter for Parliament to decide what issues to put to her and whether her appointment should place at a later date.
(Hat-tip to Channel 4 News’ home affairs producer Marcus Edward.)
Similar posts:
- Select committees: Reaction to appearances by police, the Murdochs and Brooks
- Standard: Metropolitan police loaned horse to Rebekah Brooks
- Media Guardian: Rebekah Brooks asked for police payment details
- Letters in full from News International bosses to select committee
- Phone hacking: How to follow the committee meetings later today
