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2012-05-01 21:11:02 UK Legislators Say Murdoch Displayed 'Willful Blindness'

Transcript by Newsy: http://www.youtube.com/user/NewsyWorld?feature=guide (Image source: Monika Flueckiger) BY BLAKE HANSON A UK committee investigating the News of the World phone hacking scandal released what British media is calling a "damning report" Tuesday. Here's NBC's Today Show with details. "Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has been declared not fit to run a major international corporation. In a report out this morning, British lawmakers say the news corp founder displayed quote 'willful blindness.'" But it is important to note — not everyone on the deciding committee was on-board with the report. The Los Angeles Times writes... "The committee's finding on Murdoch's unfitness was not unanimous. In fact, it led to a bitter split along party lines, with four Conservative Party members refusing to endorse the report on the grounds that such a declaration was outside the scope of the panel's investigation." The Guardian says that divide could lead to some hairy situations for British politicians. "[British Prime Minister] David Cameron and his Conservative MPs now face the unappetising political prospect of appearing to defend Rupert Murdoch ... Cameron may feel deeply uneasy at the sight of his MPs being perceived to stand by Murdoch in any way, narrow or wide." So what sort of consequences could Murdoch face? CNN offers analysis. "This phrase 'willful blindness' will be splashed across the front pages around the world really by newspapers covering this story. It is a withering attack." "It is their criticism, the criticism of their corporate governance that is particularly damning." And the BBC writes, this could signal the end of Murdoch's role at News Corp. "It will force the board of News Corporation to review whether the 81-year-old ... should remain as its executive chairman. It will give ammunition to those News Corporation shareholders who would like to loosen the hold over the company of the Murdoch dynasty." Murdoch's 40% ownership of TV company British Sky Broadcasting -- or BSkyB -- is now in jeopardy. MSNBC reports a media regulator will take the report into account and decide whether the owners are "fit and proper" to hold a broadcast license.

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