Gordon Brown Questions Washington Post CEO's Actions

Former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has accused Rupert Murdoch’s British tabloids of hacking into his mobile phone voicemails during his tenure in government. Brown expressed particular concern for the privacy of ordinary citizens, emphasizing that they should not have to endure such intrusions. His allegations have prompted Scotland Yard to initiate a preliminary inquiry into claims of obstruction of justice and false statements made by Will Lewis, a former Murdoch official now serving as the publisher and chief executive of The Washington Post. In 2011, during police questioning, Lewis reportedly attributed the deletion of millions of emails—potentially containing evidence of tabloid misconduct—to Brown. However, Lewis has not been named as a defendant in any civil cases related to the tabloids' actions, nor has he faced any criminal charges. Notably, there is currently no evidence suggesting that the email deletions were intended to obstruct justice. News UK, the parent company of the tabloids, has denied Brown's allegations, asserting that he lacks access to all relevant materials since he is not pursuing legal action against them. Many individuals who have settled with the tabloids are bound by non-disclosure agreements, complicating the situation further. Lewis has indicated that the company received a warning about the handling of stolen data but did not confront the individual involved, raising questions about the credibility of the claims. As the inquiry unfolds, both The Washington Post and Jeff Bezos have not commented on the implications for Lewis or his role at the publication.