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Hollywood Hacker? First U.S. Based Journalist Arrested in 'News of the World' Phone Hacking Scandal
Desborough (BBC News)
The first arrest of a U.S.-based journalist in the phone-hacking scandal that is rocking Rupert Murdoch's empire has happened, and the person hauled in is based in Los Angeles. James Desborough, 38, served as the U.S. editor of the News of the World, and he was hauled in today in London, according to Reuters."Desborough is an award-winning celebrity journalist who had once received the British Press Award for show business reporter of the year," explains the L.A. Times.
He was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications, and marks the 13th arrest in the ongoing case. However, charges against Desborough do not involve hacking in America, though it's not clear if he was involved in phone hacking after he was appointed to the Los Angeles gig in April of 2009.
Last month, Desborough, known for breaking all sorts of celeb and Royal gossip and newsbits in his post, told MediaMatters he was more victim, less perp: "I'm afraid I'm one of the recent people, I'm one of the victims of the cull, you know." He hinted he might be able to say more later, so perhaps his arrest was not a surprise to him.
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