Federal investigators have launched a new investigation into whether BP PLC officials lied or withheld data about how much oil was leaking into the Gulf of Mexico during the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010.

Findings could result in more charges to current and former employees.

People familiar with the matter said prosecutors are looking into statements BP officials made to members of Congress -- particularly those from a May 4, 2010, closed-door briefing involving House Energy and Commerce Committee members and officials from BP, Halliburton Co. and Transocean Ltd.

The Justice Department would not comment on the investigation.

"Just as we worked with the government in responding to the spill, we are cooperating with its investigation," said BP spokesman Geoff Morrell in a statement last week.

So far, only one person has been slapped with criminal charges in connection with the Gulf spill (Greenwire, May 16). Kurt Mix, a former BP engineer, has been federally indicted (Tom Fowler, Wall Street Journal [subscription required], May 28). -- WW