Scotland Yard has initiated a preliminary inquiry into allegations that Will Lewis, the publisher of the Washington Post, obstructed justice during the 2011 phone-hacking scandal involving Rupert Murdoch's tabloids. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a victim of the hacking, revealed the inquiry in a Guardian op-ed, questioning Lewis's integrity given the Post's motto that 'Democracy dies in darkness.' Brown claims that Lewis attempted to mislead police by falsely accusing him of conspiracy to destroy emails related to the scandal. This inquiry poses a significant threat to Lewis's leadership at the Washington Post, which he has led since January. Lewis denies wrongdoing and has remained silent regarding the current investigation, while News UK argues that Brown is trying to sway police in a public debate about media accountability. The inquiry follows a series of private lawsuits connected to the hacking incidents, with a trial involving high-profile plaintiffs, including Prince Harry, scheduled for early next year.