Possible Charges in U.K. Phone Hacking Scandal
PHILLIPS: One is the former head of Rupert Murdoch British's newspapers, the other, a former aide to British Prime Minister David Cameron, and now both Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson could face charges in the U.K.'s sweeping phone hacking scandal. Six other journalists also face charges. Their suspected hacking victims included a murdered school girl and celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Paul McCartney. Dan Rivers following developments out of London. Dan, any surprises in today's announcement?</s>DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think this was widely expected, but it is hugely significant. This is the first time since this whole scandal erupted here that we've had people charged actually with allegedly commissioning phone hacking itself. Before people have been charged with, you know, allegedly trying to cover it up or lying about it. It is alleged in court. But now we've got people charged with the offense of, you know, commissioning phone hacking which is illegal in this country. So eight of the 13 suspecting that were being considered have now formally been charged. They include Rebekah Brooks who was the CEO of News International, one of Rupert Murdoch's most trusted executives. She used to edit the former tabloid, "News of the World," along with her deputy, Andy Coulson, who went on to become a prominent Downing Street communications director. She's charged with three counts, him with five. Alison Levitt, from the prosecutors here in Britain, explained the rationale behind the decision.</s>ALISON LEVITT, U.K. PROSECUTION SERVICE: All, with the exception of Glen Markeir (ph), will be charged with conspiring to intercept communications on the 3rd of October 2000 until the 9th of August 2006. The communications in question are the voice mail messages of well-known people and/or those associated with them.</s>RIVERS: So Glen Markier (ph), she referred to there, was the private detective who had already been charged and convicted in a separate case of phone hacking royal contacts. He though was at the center of all these allegations as well, so he's also facing four further charges. There's been some reaction already. Rebekah Brooks already coming out with a statement saying -- denying she's guilty, saying she's distressed and angry about this decision, and she will be campaigning to prove her innocence. Andy Coulson as well has also come out and spoken, this time on camera. Here is what he had to say.</s>ANDY COULSON, FORMER DEPUTY EDITOR, "NEWS OF THE WORLD" & FORMER DOWNING STREET COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Anyone who knows me or who has worked with me will know I wouldn't or, importantly, that I didn't do anything to damage the Milly Dowler investigation. At the "News of the World," we worked on behalf of the victims of crime, particularly violent crime. And the idea that I would then sit in my office dreaming up schemes to undermine investigations is simply untrue.</s>RIVERS: Of course, it was the case of the murdered school girl, Milly Dowler, whose phone it was alleged was hacked into by journalists that caused this ongoing story to really explode in the public consciousness here. Now we have a more kind of comprehensive list of some of the alleged victims. They include Sir Paul McCartney, Jude Law, Actors Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, from sports and footballers, soccer players here, including Wayne Rooney, from politics to home ministers here, as well as a deputy prime minister, and even a survivor of a terrorist attack. That gives you an idea of the broad cross section of people who it is alleged were targeted by these journalists.</s>PHILLIPS: Dan Rivers out of London. Dan, thanks.