White House staff given CIA probe deadline

White House staff have been given until Tuesday to turn in all documents that might aid investigators looking into who leaked the name of an undercover CIA officer to a columnist.

Alberto Gonzales, President George W Bush’s legal counsel, sent a memo to staff saying that to comply with deadlines set by the Justice Department all materials must be turned in to his office by 5pm on Tuesday.

He said materials covered by the order include all electronic records, correspondence, computer records, notes and calendar entries. Employees also must sign a certification form saying they have turned in materials or do not have any items related to the investigation.

Investigators are trying to determine who leaked the identity of Valerie Plame, an undercover CIA operations agent who has served overseas.

Ms Plame is married to former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who has accused the Bush administration of selective use of intelligence to exaggerate the threat from Iraq.

The Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation into the leak of Ms Plame’s identity, which first appeared in a July 14 column by syndicated columnist Robert Novak and later was reported by US newspapers.