[Chapter 736: Scandal]
The countdown for the bidding of the 2000 Olympics had begun.
The international scandal spurred by Australia began surfacing all over the globe.
"We're just expressing our confidence in victory," said the official caught on camera giving out cash. It was baffling how this idiot had climbed to such a high position.
[T/N: John Coates, head of the Australian Olympic Committee, admitted in a 1999 interview that he offered financial grants to two African delegates' Olympic committees before the final vote. These grants amounted to approximately $35,000 each and were positioned as funding for sports development in Kenya and Uganda, though they raised ethical concerns and questions about undue influence. International Olympic Committee ultimately cleared Coates and his team of formal wrongdoing.]
"Mr. Murdoch, you have plenty of critics this time around."
"Rebecca, if there's news to report, would I sit on my hands? Don't pay attention to their noise. Rebecca, the World News Report did well this round; you need to keep it up."
"Thank you; digging up news is what I've always been committed to."
"Good. Very good."
Murdoch respected this woman; she was shrewd and willing to do whatever it took to achieve her goals. To him, that was what the media should be about.
That was how Rebecca Brooks entered Murdoch's line of sight. Over the following years, she indeed showcased her abilities and took decisiveness to a whole new level.
As for what came next, there wasn't much to discuss. Eavesdropping on royalty's calls was already crossing a line. Eavesdropping on the families of 9/11 victims? That was practically asking for trouble. Murdoch nearly got tossed around trying to cover this up.
Some people argued that this didn't make sense; after all, the old man was from the Australia. There was no reason for him to let his elbow lean outward.
Cough, cough. Now he was an American. He had already taken the oath; what good was it to dig up the past?
Besides, who among the clueless politicians would dare cast aside money?
Of course, when it came to the media giants' integrity, Washington had no good options. Unless there was talk of national security.
Although these scoundrels didn't care about their reputation, they wouldn't act recklessly, either. A media giant was just that -- if they didn't like your president, they'd just take him down a notch. With guts? Good luck trying it out.
The News Corporation's eavesdropping scandal? It eventually fizzled out, which made sense since none of them were squeaky clean. If push came to shove, the politicians seemed to take the brunt of it.
Eavesdropping? What were we even considering? Didn't the CIA spare anyone? If we got caught, it was just a matter of technical issues.
...
"Tanner, have our people entered yet?"
"Master, all went smoothly and we even kicked out two CIA guys."
"Cough, cough, still be cautious; these guys won't give up easily. If we find them again next time, just tie them up. Just in case we need someone to take the blame later, wouldn't that be convenient?"
"Sure, I got it, master. Those two guys were a bit clueless; pretending not to see them wouldn't work."
"Ha, their skill level was just like that; I couldn't expect too much. By the way, set up their support team; those lawyers shouldn't get tied up with ours."
"Those arrangements are underway. We won't let them run into problems."
That was how it went in the U.S. -- as long as the police didn't have evidence, they were powerless.
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.