Silence from Dan Wootton’s Employers MailOnline and GB News as Head of Commons’ DCMS Committee Demands Answers from his Former Boss The Sun Over Byline Times’ Investigation

The chair of the Commons’ Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee has written to the editor of The Sun so it can “set out what investigations are taking place” into its former employee Dan Wootton – after Byline Times revealed the presenter hid behind fake online identities to trick and bribe men into revealing compromising sexual material. 

However, Wootton’s current employers – MailOnline and GB News – have still not responded to any questions by this newspaper about whether and why he is still contracted to work for them.

While Wootton’s twice-weekly MailOnline column has not appeared since Byline Times’ investigation was published, he is still appearing on GB News’ Dan Wootton Tonight.

Conservative MP Dame Caroline Dinenage wrote to Victoria Newton, editor of The Sun, yesterday, 24 July, about its coverage of the recent ‘BBC presenter scandal’ implicating Huw Edwards, and Byline Times’ investigations into Wootton.

“Our role is not to challenge individual stories or editorial decisions, but we would be grateful if you could set out the processes by which The Sun verifies any story it chooses to report, especially those where issues of privacy may be at stake,” Dame Caroline said. 

“Given the concerns that have been reported about inaccuracies, changing narratives and lack of engagement with some of the parties involved in the case of Mr Edwards, we would also be interested to understand what was done to verify this specific story and what, if any, reviews or discussions are ongoing about The Sun’s procedures and reporting in this case and any wider lessons to be learned.”

In contrast to The Sun’s story about Edwards, which was followed up immediately by all major established media outlets and dominated headlines for days, mainstream publications have not extensively reported on Byline Times’ investigation into Dan Wootton.