Federal government widens Times leak probe

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Federal agents have expanded a probe into leaks that led to a New York Times story revealing the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance program.

The Times reported Saturday the investigation was expanding, but said none of its reporters have been questioned.

In December, the newspaper reported that the National Security Agency was monitoring communications into and out of the United States, apparently bypassing procedures set up by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. President George W. Bush and other administration officials say the monitoring has been limited to communications involving at least one party with strongly suspected ties to al-Qaida.

"Before running the story we gave long and sober consideration to the administration's contention that disclosing the program would damage the country's counterterrorism efforts," Times Executive Editor Bill Keller said. "We were not convinced then, and have not been convinced since, that our reporting compromised national security."