Justice Department drops probe of Murdoch's companies

The U.S. Justice Department won't prosecute the media companies controlled by Rupert Murdoch - 21st Century Fox and News Corp. - following an investigation of voicemail hacking and payments to public officials in the United Kingdom.

"We are grateful that this matter has been concluded and acknowledge the fairness and professionalism of the Department of Justice throughout this investigation," according to a statement released Monday by Gerson Zweifach, who is general counsel of News Corp. and group general counsel and chief compliance officer of 21st Century Fox.

Prior to News Corp. splitting into two companies in 2013, it was investigated for allegedly hacking voicemail accounts of sources, politicians and celebrities and bribing public officials for scoops, according to USA Today.

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