George W. Bush was on Friday night facing his most serious White House crisis after the special prosecutor in the CIA leak case announced criminal charges against a top administration aide and decided to keep the investigation open.

As he headed to his Camp David retreat for the weekend, relief for Mr Bush that Karl Rove, his chief strategist, had not been indicted was tempered by the prospect of further torment from the continuing inquiry and likely trial of Lewis “Scooter” Libby, chief of staff to Dick Cheney, vice-president.