GOP lawmaker: Possible White House cover-up

WASHINGTON - A key lawmaker is asking new questions about whether the White House covered up allegations that a volunteer aide was involved in a Secret Service prostitution scandal.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz says there's compelling evidence that a volunteer member of the White House advance team had a prostitute in his hotel room during a trip to Colombia two years ago.

A scandal during that trip led to the firing of more than a half-dozen Secret Service agents.

At that time, White House officials denied that anyone on the team was involved with prostitutes, and officials denied it again Thursday.

Chaffetz heads the national security subcommittee of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

The Utah Republican says information he's learned from whistle-blowers - along with details in The Washington Post - amount to "thorough and compelling" evidence.

He tells The Associated Press he wants to give the White House an opportunity to respond and address the allegations.