Prince Harry: Jeff Bezos' CEO Masterminded Hacking Cover-Up
Prince Harry has reportedly accused Will Lewis, the controversial CEO installed at the Washington Post by Jeff Bezos, of having “instigated and authorized” a cover-up of “endemic” illegality at U.K. tabloid the Sun.
Papers which are due to be filed in court by Harry’s legal team reportedly will say that Lewis, who was put in charge of dealing with the phone hacking scandal for News Group Newspapers in 2011, masterminded—along with James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks—a cover-up of a regime of unlawful information gathering including the bugging of cars and phones to get stories on Harry and his co-plaintiff, the former lawmaker Tom Watson.
In response to Daily Beast reporting last year, the Washington Post issued a statement attributed to Lewis saying, “Any allegations of wrongdoing are untrue. I have no further comment to make.”
Lewis has been under fire from staff at the Post for his stewardship of the paper, which has lost almost 90 percent of its online readership and half a million subscribers in recent years. He appears, however, to remain in favor with Bezos, who was seen dining with him as recently as Friday last week.
Spotted: Jeff Bezos at Osteria Mozza on Friday pic.twitter.com/KW0QCE9LYU
— Overheard District (@OverheardWDC) January 20, 2025
The suit also alleges that NGN owner Rupert Murdoch, who this week attended the inauguration of Donald Trump, misled a Parliamentary Committee and that a staggering 30 million emails were deleted by NGN to cover up their malfeasance, according to the first outlet to report on the filings, the independent Byline Times, which is closely associated with campaign group Hacked Off.
The allegations, which include a claim Lewis misled the police, were made at the start of what was expected to be a nine-week trial. Byline Times says that 14 other previously planned trials have been settled. However, Harry has spoken of his determination to see the trial through despite huge financial risks.
However reports Tuesday said NGN’s team made a “massive offer” to Harry at the very last minute, and both legal teams joined forces to delay the formal start of the case until Wednesday as they negotiated.
Under U.K. legal rules, Harry risks being lumped with vast legal costs if the amount he is awarded is less than what NGN has offered to settle the case.
The actor Hugh Grant explained in April 2024 that he felt he had to settle with NGN after being advised bills could run to more than $10 million ($12 million), even if he was successful.
In a lengthy thread on X, Grant wrote, “News Group are claiming they are entirely innocent of the things I had accused the Sun of doing — phone hacking, unlawful information gathering, landline tapping, the burglary of my flat and office, the bugging of my car, the illegal blagging of medical records, lies, perjury and the destruction of evidence.
“As is common with entirely innocent people, they are offering me an enormous sum of money to keep this matter out of court.
“I don’t want to accept this money or settle. I would love to see all the allegations that they deny tested in court,” he added, ”But the rules around civil litigation mean that if I proceed to trial and the court awards me damages that are even a penny less than the settlement offer, I would have to pay the legal costs of both sides. My lawyers tell me that that is exactly what would most likely happen here. Rupert Murdoch’s lawyers are very expensive. So even if every allegation is proven in court, I would still be liable for something approaching £10 million in costs. I’m afraid I am shying at that fence.”
Harry, however, has previously talked up his desire to take the battle all the way. In December, during an onstage talk at The New York Times Dealbook summit, Harry said: “One of the main reasons for seeing this through is accountability, because I’m the last person that can actually achieve that.”
Once one of about 40 plaintiffs suing Murdoch’s publications, Harry and Watson are the last two plaintiffs standing, with all the others settling their claims.
Harry is thought to be in California, but is expected to travel to London in February to give evidence and be cross-examined, a process that could last two days or more.
Lawyers for the claimants said, “[Illegal behaviour] was widespread and habitual at these newspapers, despite the denials, and there was a deliberate cover-up and concealment of incriminating evidence by Senior Executives.”
News Group denies the allegations.