The FBI is investigating the leak that revealed an operation that foiled a recent al Qaeda bomb plot against the United States.
    
An agent working with the U.S., Britain and Saudi Arabia penetrated an al Qaeda cell in Yemen and stole its latest bomb.
    
Suspected bombmaker Ibrahim al-Asiri reportedly fled after learning of the sting through media reports.  FBI Director Robert Mueller told the Senate Judiciary Committee the leak could have grave consequences.

"Leaks such as this threaten ongoing operations, puts at risk the lives of sources, makes it much more difficult to recruit sources, and damages our relationships with our foreign partners," Mueller told lawmakers.

"Consequently, leaks like this are taken exceptionally seriously and we'll investigate thoroughly," he said.
    
Committee members are concerned the information was leaked for political reasons.