Legal letter raises doubts over ex-BBC chief Thompson's denial on Savile
Legal correspondence, sent on behalf of Mark Thompson, seems to undermine his claim not to have known of Savile sex abuse allegations
A legal letter sent on behalf of Mark Thompson, the former director general of the BBC, seems to contradict his assertions that he learned of accusations of sexual abuse against longtime host Jimmy Savile only after leaving the corporation's top job.
In the letter, sent 10 days before Thompson left the BBC in September, lawyers representing him and another executive threatened to sue of London over contentions in an article it was preparing that they had been involved in killing a BBC investigation of Savile.
Interviews show that the letter included a summary of the alleged abuse, including the allegation that some abuse may have occurred at the BBC.
People who have reviewed the private letter said it recounted that the proposed article in would "look at a number of allegations regarding the behaviour of the late television and radio presenter, specifically that he took advantage of a series of young women. Some of the alleged assaults took place on BBC premises."
An aide to the former BBC chief said that although Thompson had orally authorised the sending of the letter, he had not known the details of its contents.
"It's not clear if he was shown it, but he doesn't remember reading it," said the aide, a personal adviser.
