Christmas Day bomb suspect Abdulmutallab providing intelligence, sources say

Separately, FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III told senators at an intelligence committee hearing that Abdulmutallab was giving information to investigators. Mueller did not elaborate.

The disclosures that the Nigerian student is cooperating with criminal investigators come amid a fierce debate in Congress over the Obama administration's handling of the case and, more broadly, its approach to national security.

Dennis C. Blair, President Obama's director of national intelligence, has said Abdulmutallab should have been interrogated by special terrorism investigators instead of FBI agents. House and Senate Republicans have criticized the Justice Department's decision to prosecute Abdulmutallab in a civilian court, rather than through a military commission, and one Senate leader, Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), has called for the resignation of Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.

The Obama administration asserts, however, that its approach is paying dividends. "It's been very successful as far as gaining his cooperation," a senior administration official told reporters late Tuesday, referring to Abdulmutallab. Officials have also said that the civilian legal system is more than capable of handling terrorism investigations and trials.