Lamberth, who is holding hearings into allegations of obstruction of justice by White House officials concerning the computer problem and the delayed reconstruction of the missing e-mails.

CNN: White House e-mail administrator says he never told Clinton about missing messages

The White House, with the aid of contractors, will have to go back through those tapes -- perhaps six months worth -- to extract the missing e-mail messages.

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

The announcement came from Chief Warrant Officer Terrence Misich, several hours into a hearing called so that a federal judge could determine the best way to proceed in recovering the missing e-mails.

CNN: White House begins copying tapes of missing e-mails