CNN talk-show host Piers Morgan confirmed Friday that he has been interviewed by British police investigating the illegal interception of telephone voice mails. Morgan, formerly a tabloid newspaper editor in Britain, was not arrested but was “interviewed under caution” on Dec. 6 by British detectives investigating the long-running phone-hacking scandal. “This was further to a full witness statement I had already freely provided,” Morgan said in a statement. He has consistently denied wrongdoing. The Metropolitan Police said a 48-year-old journalist was questioned on that date. That means the interview was recorded and could be used in future prosecutions. A police statement said the questioning is linked to a specific inquiry into phone hacking at Mirror Group Newspapers, one of the United Kingdom’s biggest media groups. Morgan, who in early 2011 stepped into the CNN talk-show host role long held by Larry King, edited The Daily Mirror newspaper between 1995 and 2004. He has said in a British inquiry that he was not aware of any phone hacking during his tenure at the tabloid. Judge Brian Leveson, who led the investigation, called Morgan’s denial “utterly unpersuasive.” Britain’s phone-hacking scandal has led to numerous arrests and the closure of News of the World tabloid.

Drake has apologized for lashing out at Rolling Stone for replacing him on the cover with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. The 27-year-old wrote Friday on his blog: “I completely support and agree with Rolling Stone” putting the actor on the cover. He called Hoffman “legendary.” The rapper added that he was frustrated and said Thursday was “an emotional day.” Drake tweeted Thursday that he was “disgusted” that Rolling Stone put Hoffman on its cover and that he was finished doing magazine interviews.

Front Section, Pages 2 on 02/15/2014