Rebekah Brooks, pictured here during the formal inquiry regarding her relationship with Prime Minister David Cameron. (Rodrigo Javier/Flickr)

The Guardian reported Brooks alongside her husband, Charlie, and four others were charged. The Crown Prosecution Service announced three counts of conspiracy for trying to conceal evidence from detectives and offering bribes to public officials for their discretion. 

According to the Guardian, Brooks & Co.—altogether six employees from News International—could face a penalty of life imprisonment, though on average, those sentenced only serve 10 months.

From The Guardian:

In a statement, Brooks and her husband – who are both close to David Cameron – condemned the decision made by senior lawyers and overseen by Keir Starmer QC, the director of public prosecutions.

"We deplore this weak and unjust decision after the further unprecedented posturing of the CPS," the statement said. "We will respond later today after our return from the police station."

The CPS chose to announce the charges against Brooks, her husband and four others in a televised statement in the interests of "transparency and accountability".

In a news conference aired by the BBC, Charlie Brooks called the investigation a "witch-hunt" against his wife. Rebekah Brooks said she was "baffled" by the decision. "Whilst I have always respected the criminal justice system, I have to question today whether the decision was made on a proper, impartial assessment of the evidence," she said. 

"One day, the details of this case will emerge," Brooks continued, "and people will see today as nothing more than an expensive sideshow, a waste of public money as a result of an unjust and weak decision."

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