The FOTHOM story may simmer over the summer, but have no fears it will go away. Most of Europe goes away in August, and though we're not as bad as the French, don't be surprised to see a lack of live updates in the Guardian. Even journalists need a break, and no doubt the lawyers are off to Tuscany for most the month.
But the biggest police operations in the UK at the moment have not stopped, and apart from the phone hacking and police corruption, they're now locking at computer hacking (through Trojan horses) and other forms of blagging and covert surveillance. This will only get worse....
Meanwhile, some news from the US
Eric Holder Takes the 9/11 Hacking Allegations Seriously
I've learned from some the meta around here that many Kossacks think Holder will back off any contentious investigation, and that the US justice system (though much harsher on hacking in terms of penalties) more likely to be swayed by money. Well this breaking news from Reuters might indicate otherwise
Attorney General Eric Holder will reassure families of September 11 victims when he meets them later this month that the Justice Department is seriously investigating allegations that News Corp reporters tried to hack victims' phones."I'll certainly want to hear what they have to say with regard to their concerns and, to the extent that I can share information with them, I will," Holder said on Wednesday.
"I will try to reassure them that this is something we are taking seriously," he told reporters.
Holder will meet with the families on August 24 at their request following a report in Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper that reporters with the rival News of the World had offered to pay a New York police officer for private phone records of some victims of the 2001 attacks.
For those who want more on the 9/11 victims allegation, here's a link to the breaking FOTHOM diary here - and do check out the comments which are often more informative than my diary. Oh. And feel free to add the tag
Let me reiterate: James and Rupert Murdoch are US citizens. Newscorp is incorporated in the States. It's in your country that the stake will finally be driven through the corrupt and monopolistic practices that have deformed the press in the UK for 40 years, and your broadcast news for two decades
Meanwhile, I'll update below the fold with brief profile of two of the people - a Brit and a Yank - who have heroically taken the fight to Murdoch's empire, despite intimidations and threats.