UK Launches Investigation Into Publisher

We’ve got a developing story that’s making waves across the pond and shaking up the world of journalism. Scotland Yard has launched a preliminary inquiry into allegations against Washington Post publisher and chief executive, Will Lewis. The accusations date back 13 years to his time at News UK, a company owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and involve the infamous phone-hacking scandal that rocked the British press.

Let’s break it down. The inquiry comes after former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, himself a victim of the hacking, brought the issue back into the spotlight. Brown published an article in The Guardian where he highlighted the irony of the Washington Post’s motto, "Democracy Dies in Darkness," questioning whether its current publisher was complicit in covering up one of the darkest chapters in British journalism.

So, what’s this all about? The allegations focus on a crucial moment in 2011 when the Murdoch tabloids were under fire for hacking into the phones and private records of celebrities, politicians, and everyday citizens. As lawsuits piled up and police investigations heated, Will Lewis, who had just joined News UK, became a key figure in liaising with the authorities.

Here’s where it gets murky. In July 2011, police questioned Lewis and News UK’s chief technology officer, Paul Cheesbrough, about the deletion of millions of emails just six months earlier. These emails were suspected of containing evidence related to the phone-hacking scandal.

According to court documents, Lewis and Cheesbrough claimed they deleted the emails because of a supposed security threat. They said they were warned that Gordon Brown and another MP, Tom Watson, had plotted to acquire the emails of News UK’s chief executive, Rebekah Brooks.

But here’s the catch: beyond a single email from Cheesbrough, there’s no hard evidence to back up the existence of this alleged plot. The police notes from that time even record Lewis apologizing for not disclosing this information earlier, but it all sounds rather flimsy when you dig into the details. Fast forward to today, and the legal battles continue, with lawyers representing those suing News UK accusing Lewis of fabricating the security threat as an excuse to delete potentially incriminating emails.

It’s important to note that Lewis isn’t a defendant in the current lawsuits, and News UK has denied any wrongdoing. They stand by their claim that the security threat was real and that the emails were not deleted to obstruct justice. They even pointed out that a 2015 statement from the Crown Prosecution Service found no evidence suggesting that the emails were destroyed to pervert the course of justice.

But this inquiry is a serious development for Will Lewis, who only recently took the reins at the Washington Post. Since his appointment, these old allegations have cast a shadow over his leadership, creating tension within the newsroom. In fact, the controversy contributed to the departure of the Post’s Executive Editor, Sally Buzbee, who chose to leave after being offered a different role by Lewis amid the fallout.

So, what’s next? Scotland Yard’s inquiry, which is being handled by a special team under the central specialist crime command, could lead to further investigations if more evidence comes to light. For now, the inquiry is a preliminary step, but it’s certainly one that adds pressure on Lewis as he navigates his new role at one of America’s most respected newspapers.