UK minister faces questions over ties to Murdoch

[May 31, 2012]  LONDON (AP) -- A British Cabinet minister is giving evidence to the country's media ethics inquiry amid sharp questions about his handling of a take-over deal launched by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who was scheduled to testify Thursday, has faced repeated calls from opposition lawmakers to resign over revelations about his office's ties to Murdoch's empire.

Hunt was responsible for a decision on whether News Corp. should be authorized to take full control of satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting, in which it holds a 39 percent stake. The bid was withdrawn following Britain's tabloid phone hacking scandal.

The inquiry has disclosed that a News Corp. lobbyist sent hundreds of emails and texts to Hunt's office, and was offered information on the progress of the bid.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.