THE US: The FBI began a full-scale criminal investigation yesterday into whether White House officials broke the law by leaking the identity of an undercover CIA agent. Conor O'Clery, North America Editor reports
Facing charges the CIA official was outed as part of a smear campaign for political gain, President Bush called on anyone with information to come forward, saying: "I want to know the truth" - but he resisted calls for a special counsel investigation.
Most White House employees discovered the probe was under way when they logged on to their computers yesterday and found an e-mail saying: "Please read: Important Message From Counsel's Office." The message from White House counsel Alberto Gonzales said: ""You must preserve all materials that might in any way be related to the department's investigation." These included telephone logs, e-mails, notes and other documents.
Democrats demanded the appointment of a special outside counsel, but Mr Bush said: "I'm absolutely confident that the Justice Department can do a good job. I don't know of anyone in my administration who has leaked. This investigation is a good thing." White House spokesman Scott McClellan said that the US Justice Department called the White House late on Monday to say it was moving from a preliminary inquiry to a full investigation, a rare step with complaints over leaks.
The name of the CIA operative is believed to have been leaked to discredit her husband, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who had reported that Mr Bush hyped claims on Iraqi attempts to buy uranium in Africa.
Mr Wilson had discredited the claim earlier on a journey to Niger at the request of the CIA. The implication of the leak was that he was not up to the job and only got sent to Niger because his wife promoted his name.
Democrats said a special counsel should be appointed as Attorney General John Ashcroft, a close ally of Mr Bush, had a conflict of interest. "We don't have confidence in John Ashcroft," said Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle. It is a crime to disclose the name of a covert agent.
The CIA officer's name was published by columnist Robert Novak, who quoted "two senior administration officials".Mr Ashcroft said the CIA would tell its staff to preserve relevant files.On Monday Mr McClellan said it was "ridiculous" to suggest that Karl Rove, Bush's chief political adviser, was behind the leak.