Treasury looking into possible leak of T-bill plans

WASHINGTON -- The Treasury Department's Inspector General is part of an investigation into allegations that someone leaked market-sensitive information about the government's decision last week to stop selling 30-year bonds.

Wednesday's announcement of the government's decision prompted a big bond-market rally.

Two days later, David Aufhauser, the Treasury Department's general counsel, told reporters his office was conducting an investigation into the leak.

Treasury Inspector General Jeffrey Rush, in an interview with The Associated Press Monday, said his office is now involved in the matter.

"We're going to start off and look at what the general counsel's office has done and then we'll look into what we could do," Rush said. "We're reviewing what is known and working with the general counsel to sort out the next step."

Rush and Aufhauser said that if Treasury concludes that a breach of rules occurred, the case could be referred to the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Justice Department for further investigation.