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From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The BBC has already spent more than £200,000 in legal fees investigating the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal.
At a fiery meeting with MPs at the Commons Culture, Media and Sport select committee, Lord Patten said the corporation had already covered legal bills of up to £10,000 each for BBC staff being investigated over claims its culture allowed its stars to commit sexual harassment and assault.
The chairman of the BBC Trust added the corporation would be prepared to go as far as £50,000 per person.
A separate inquiry by former head of Sky News Nick Pollard is looking at whether a Newsnight investigation into sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile was shelved to cover up the scandal.
40 people have already been quizzed in that inquiry, although not all were given legal help.
Lord Patten said the ongoing inquiries will be ‘expensive’, adding it would be licence fee payers that would have to “bear the cost”.
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