He said his office computer and phone systems were disconnected during his investigations and that people had been watching his house once he was suspended.

BBC: Kinnock 'can't beat Euro-corruption'

Earlier this month, Iain Lobban, the head of GCHQ, told a cyber security conference in London that a "significant" attempt was made to target the computer systems of the Foreign Office and other government departments over the summer.

BBC: GCHQ to help firms combat cybercrime

Had his office not done that work, Lyle said, computer systems throughout the White House may have faced catastrophic failures on Jan. 1, 2000.

CNN: White House officials say e-mail problem was not a high priority at end of 1999