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House panel subpoenas two HP execs

Energy and Commerce committee to compel testimony of two high-level execs in its probe into a Hewlett-Packard investigation.

Greg Sandoval Former Staff writer
Greg Sandoval covers media and digital entertainment for CNET News. Based in New York, Sandoval is a former reporter for The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. E-mail Greg, or follow him on Twitter at @sandoCNET.
Greg Sandoval
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Two Hewlett-Packard executives were served subpoenas Monday to appear at a congressional hearing in connection with the company's investigation into media leaks.

The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce is compelling the testimony of Kevin Hunsaker, HP's chief ethics officer, and Anthony Gentilucci, the head of global investigations for HP, an aide for the panel said.

A number of other HP executives, including CEO Mark Hurd and former Chairman Patricia Dunn, are expected to appear voluntarily before the committee.

Ron DeLia, one of the private investigators hired by the technology giant to help gather information on board directors, company employees and journalists, was also subpoenaed by the subcommittee, the aide said.

DeLia, who operates a Needham, Mass.-based company called Security Outsourcing Solutions, was invited to appear before the subcommittee, but he has indicated that he intends to seek protection under his Fifth Amendment right not to testify.

The congressional committee has been investigating "pretexting," the practice of obtaining private information through false pretenses, for seven months.

Hunsaker and Gentilucci are expected to leave their jobs at HP, sources have told CNET News.com

Besides the House panel, a number of other bodies are making inquiries into HP's investigation, including California's attorney general, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the U.S. Department of Justice.