WASHINGTON – The White House is cooperating with an FBI investigation into a former Marine who worked in the vice president's office and has been charged with passing classified information to Filipino officials.
Leandro Aragoncillo, 46, a 21-year Marine (search) veteran who became an FBI intelligence analyst last year, already has been charged in New Jersey with passing classified information about Filipino leaders to current and former officials of that nation.
Aragoncillo worked at the White House (search) from 1999 to 2001 and was assigned to the vice president's office under both Al Gore (search) and Dick Cheney (search).
White House officials said they were aware of the investigation but would provide no details.
"It is an ongoing investigation and as such all questions should be directed to the FBI," White House press secretary Scott McClellan (search) said. "We are cooperating fully with the investigation."
Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said the department would not comment on an ongoing investigation, first reported Wednesday evening by ABC.
Aragoncillo was hired to work at the Army's Fort Monmouth, N.J., in July 2004 and began sending classified information and documents in January, according to a FBI complaint made public last month. The documents' contents have not been made public.
He sent some of the material to Michael Ray Aquino (search), a former deputy director of the Philippines National Police who lives in New York City, the complaint said.
Both men were arrested Sept. 10 at their homes and ordered held without bail following an appearance before a federal magistrate.
Aragoncillo is a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in the Phillipines.
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