Piers Morgan Refuses To Name Names

In 2006 Piers Morgan told a newspaper reporter he had listened to a phone message Paul McCartney left for his then-estranged wife Heather Mills. Testifying today before the United Kingdom’s media ethics committee, the CNN celeb interviewer refused to answer questions about how he obtained the recording.

Photo: AP Photo

A screen capture depicts Morgan answering questions from a media ethics inquiry sitting in London, England.

Morgan’s testimony marked the latest development in the News Corp. hacking scandal that has resulted in the arrests of more than 100 journalists. Before launching his U.S. media career, Morgan ran two Brit tabloids – the Rupert Murdoch / News Corp-owned News Of The World as well as competitor Daily Mirror. News Of The World ceased publication soon after the hacking scandal became public.

When the media ethics committee asked how he ended up possessing a copy of McCartney’s message to Mills in which the former Beatle even sang a few lines from “We Can Work It Out,” Morgan said he wasn’t going “to start any trail that leads to the identification of a source.”

Morgan also said he couldn’t supply any information proving he heard the recording legally.

Testifying under oath, Morgan could face criminal proceedings if prosecutors believe he violated any British laws. So far, he’s described inquiring attorneys’ actions as “nonsense.”