NEW YORK (1010 WINS)  -- A New York congressman is calling on the Bush administration to seek criminal charges against The New York Times for reporting on a secret financial-monitoring program.

Republican Peter King says the Times shouldn't be releasing information about secret operations when the U.S. is at war. He says the Times actions are -- quote -- "treasonous.''

But the Times says the secret program is a matter of public interest and the story needed to be published.

Conservatives have expressed outrage against the media ever since the Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times first reported on the money-monitoring program. But King appears to be the first to call for a criminal prosecution.

King thinks investigators should also examine the reports by the Journal and L-A Times, but said the greater focus should be on the Times -- because of their previous reporting on a secret domestic wiretapping program.