The US federal grand jury investigating the leak of a covert CIA operative's identity to the press is scheduled to meet today amid speculation the prosecutor may seek criminal charges.
The grand jury session follows a last-minute flurry of interviews by investigators with CIA operative Valerie Plame's neighbours and a former colleague of top White House adviser Karl Rove .
Ms Plame's identity was leaked after her diplomat husband, Joseph Wilson, accused the administration of twisting prewar intelligence on Iraq.
White House officials were anxiously awaiting the outcome of the leak case since any indicted officials were expected to resign immediately. If indictments are brought, Mr Bush was likely to make a public statement to try to reassure Americans that he is committed to honesty and integrity in government.
Lawyers involved in the case said the prosecutor PatrickFitzgerald, appeared close to bringing indictments, with an announcement expected as early as Wednesday, after the grand jury meets.
The grand jury is slated to expire on Friday unless Mr Fitzgerald extends it.
The White House has refused to answer questions about Vice President Dick Cheney's role in the case.
According to a New York Timesreport, Cheney's chief of staff, Lewis Libby, learned about Ms Plame in a conversation with Mr Cheney on June 12, 2003, weeks before her identity became public in a newspaper column by Robert Novak on July 14, 2003.