FBI says it examines government workers' telephone records in leaks investigations

WASHINGTON — The FBI acknowledged Monday that it checks records of telephone calls made by government employees as part of criminal investigations of leaks of classified information, but the bureau denied that it routinely tracks calls made to and by reporters.

The bureau typically opens a leak investigation after receiving a referral from the Justice Department, spokesman Bill Carter said.

"The FBI will take logical investigative steps to determine if a criminal act was committed by a government employee by the unauthorized release of classified information," Carter said. "In such cases, investigators may examine the telephone records of government agencies."

Carter said a report published on ABC News' Web site left a misleading impression that authorities are tracking reporters' calls in an effort to root out confidential sources. The ABC story said the government, in an effort to trace leaks, was "tracking the phone numbers" that reporters call.