James Murdoch contradicted by his ex-legal manager

By CASSANDRA VINOGRAD -
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — A British lawmaker said Friday he will ask police to investigate a claim contradicting James Murdoch's testimony he was not aware of evidence that the eavesdropping at one of his newspapers went beyond a jailed rogue reporter.

Murdoch's former legal adviser and an ex-editor say they told media mogul Rupert Murdoch's son years ago about an email that suggested the rot at the News of the World tabloid was more widespread than claimed.

News International said James Murdoch stood by his Tuesday statements to the parliamentary committee investigating the spreading phone-hacking scandal, but the allegation could deal a blow to his credibility. The Murdoch family is struggling to limit the damage from the scandal, which has already cost the media empire one of its British tabloids, two top executives and a billion-dollar bid for control of a satellite broadcaster.

Tom Watson, a lawmaker in the opposition Labour Party, told the BBC Friday he would ask "formally" for police to investigate the claim.

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