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REPUBLICANS are threatening to send members of the White House staff to prison if they refuse this week to hand over to congressional investigators 2,000 pages of sensitive documents.

Newt Gingrich, the House Speaker, imposed a Wednesday deadline for the documents to be surrendered, after which contempt proceedings would begin. A successful prosecution for defying a congressional order would leave President Clinton's staff liable to up to a year in prison.

"These people cannot continue to stonewall, obstruct, delay and lie," Mr Gingrich said. The White House claims the documents are covered by executive privilege and would be of no relevance to any investigation related to Whitewater.

The wanted documents relate to the sacking in 1993 of the White House travel office staff, and Republicans believe they will show further ethical lapses by Mr and Mrs Clinton's inner circle.

The last batch released 10 days ago disclosed that a White House official had asked for more than 400 confidential FBI personnel files on past members of Republican administrations.

The scandal is continuing to haunt the White House.

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