BP seeks White House emails on oil spill response

NEW ORLEANS – BP is seeking a court order compelling the White House to turn over emails by a former top adviser to President Barack Obama about the administration's response to last summer's massive Gulf oil spill.

The company says in a court filing Wednesday in New Orleans that emails by Carol Browner, Obama's former adviser on energy and climate, could shed light on the White House's role in estimating the rate of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico from BP's blown-out well.

BP PLC says it should be allowed to review emails by Browner and three other White House staffers because those flow-rate estimates may dictate the company's financial liability.

The Justice Department says BP's request is overly broad and asks U.S. Magistrate Sally Shushan to reject it.