Bush appointee balks at file request

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- A Bush appointee charged with investigating potential misconduct within the White House said he won't give his personal files to investigators.

Special Counsel Scott Bloch, whose office is charged with investigating allegations of retaliation against whistle-blowers and partisan politicking in federal agencies, said Thursday through a spokesman that he won't give copies of personal files deleted from his computer to federal investigators, The Washington Post reported Friday.

Bloch, who has been investigating allegations that Karl Rove, a former senior adviser to U.S. President George Bush, improperly used government employees to assist in Republican political campaigns, has been accused by the administration of engaging in retaliation against whistle-blowers in his own office and dismissing other whistle-blower cases brought by government agencies, the newspaper report said.

Bloch said the files requested by the Office of Personnel Management, which was asked by the administration to investigate the allegations against him, aren't pertinent to the office's investigation.

The official's office confirmed reports that he employed commercial computer service Geeks On Call to clean the contents of his computer's hard drive as well as hard drives owned by two aides, the Post said.