Issa fires top aide

Washington (CNN) - A top aide to California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa has been fired after allegations that he improperly shared e-mails with a New York Times reporter surfaced Thursday, according to a statement from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Kurt Bardella, a spokesman and long-time aide for the chairman of the committee, is alleged to have shared e-mails from other reporters with Mark Leibovich, who is penning an inside baseball book about the political culture of Washington, D.C.

In the story first reported by Politico on Monday, Bardella and Leibovich were said to have been "cooperating extensively," and did not deny that the e-mails were shared when given the opportunity.

A statement released by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, details Bardella's release. "While our review of allegations raised by Politico is not yet complete, it has become clear that the committee's Deputy Communications Director Kurt Bardella did share reporter e-mail correspondence with New York Times journalist Mark Leibovich for a book project. Though limited, these actions were highly inappropriate, a basic breach of trust with the reporters it was his job to assist, and inconsistent with established communications office policies. As a consequence, his employment has been terminated."

CNN's Dana Bash contributed to this report.