Murdoch Media Scandal Spreads to New York Post

The shadow of the Rupert Murdoch hacking scandal has crossed the pond to the New York Post.

Staffers at the tabloid were ordered yesterday to “preserve and maintain documents” related to the ever-widening investigation into phone hacking and bribery by London-based members of Murdoch’s media empire.

“All New York Post employees have been asked to do this,” editor Col Allan wrote in one memo.

In another, Allan told the staff to save documents “in light of what has gone on in London at News of the World, and not because any recipient has done anything improper or unlawful.”

Allan was specific about what should not be spiked.

“Any documents pertaining to unauthorized retrieval of phone or personal data, to payments for information to government officials, or that is related in any way to these issues, must be retained,” he wrote.

That includes emails, text messages, voicemails, handwritten notes and “any content in social media.”

A spokeswoman for the Post declined to elaborate on Allan’s directives.

The scandal that rocked Murdoch’s world erupted last month with revelations that somebody at the now-defunct News of the World newspaper in London hacked the phones of murder victims, terror survivors – even slain British soldiers.