After allegations surfaced that reporters working for The News of The World attempted to hack the phones of 9/11 victims, Attorney General Eric Holder said in Australia Friday that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Reuters reports:

"There have been members of Congress in the United States who have asked us to investigate those same allegations and we are progressing in that regard using the appropriate Federal law enforcement agencies," Holder told reporters.

This week, multiple members of Congress, hailing from both parties, asked Holder to investigate News Corp. after the allegations surfaced. The FBI is specifically investigating the claim about 9/11 victims, according to multiple news outlets.

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, asked for an investigation in a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller this week. From TalkingPointsMemo:

"It is revolting to imagine that members of the media would seek to compromise the integrity of a public official for financial gain in the pursuit of yellow journalism," King said in a letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller. "The 9/11 families have suffered egregiously, but unfortunately they remain vulnerable against such unjustifiable parasitic strains."

Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), meanwhile, issued similar requests to holder and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). From National Journal:

"The allegations, if true, may constitute a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits corrupt payments intended to influence any act or decision of a foreign official," Rockefeller and Boxer wrote in a joint statement.

Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) also sent letters to Holder and the SEC.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.