House Republicans are up in arms about a Web site set up by the Democratic staff on the House Judiciary Committee to solicit tips from Justice Department employees about "the possible politicization of the United States Department of Justice since 2001."

Staff for House Minority Leader John Boehner, Ohio Republican, sent out an e-mail with the title: "Send us your innuendo, your heresy, your conjecture. We'll investigate."

Rep. Lamar Smith, Texas Republican, complained that the Web site appeared aimed at gathering information that would be shared only with Democratic staff and lawmakers.

"Let me say I hope that this Web site was not set up with members' knowledge and I trust that it will be taken down immediately," said Mr. Smith, during a hearing with Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty today.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr., Michigan Democrat said he knew nothing about the Web site, and a committee spokeswoman said the Web site was set up "by the committee."

When asked if that meant committee staff, the spokeswoman, Melanie Roussell, said, "the committee."

Rep. Linda Sanchez, who chairs the commercial and administrative law subcommittee, promised Mr. Hunt she would look into whether the Web site was improper.

The Web site says it was "created in response to numerous requests by current or former career attorneys of the Department of Justice who have advised Members and staff of the House Judiciary Committee that they are concerned that the Department has become unduly politicized in pursuing its important law enforcement functions."

Rep. Chris Cannon, Utah Republican, said "the creation of a secret Web site to collect gossip and rumors only accessible by the majority party, and only about the Bush administration, is blatant partisanship."

-- Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times