The 33-to-29 vote in the Republican-controlled committee came after Democrats denounced the plan as evidence of a double standard at a time when other Americans were struggling to pay their own energy bills.

Mr. Nemazee has said that the questions raised against him were groundless and that his candidacy fell victim to politics and a Republican-controlled committee.

She said the Republican-controlled committee was too partisan, too narrowly focused on the White House, and too likely to wind up wasting huge sums of money.

In recent weeks, the White House has given reporters potentially embarrassing documents before the Republican-controlled committees in the House and Senate could do so themselves.

The Republican-controlled committee, in a second report, also sharply criticized the administration for its reliance on the Iraqi National Congress during the prelude to the war in Iraq.

The legislation cleared the Republican-controlled committee 27 to 17 in a largely party-line vote after a day of verbal sparring.

Hoping to avoid a standoff, Mr. Ridge said on Wednesday that he would brief two Republican-controlled committees over the next two weeks.

Aides to the Republican-controlled committee said it was unlikely that the objections would jeopardize Justice Ciparick's nomination.

The Republican-controlled committee approved three articles of impeachment after more than 12 hours of rancorous deliberations.

What has made so many different Republican-controlled committees interested in Mr. Huang is the unusual path his career has taken.