"We did not order up an investigation of the adoptions," Public Editor Joe Plambeck insisted, in response to a firestorm of controversy over the Drudge Report's claim earlier in the day that just such a probe had been launched.

Quoting an unnamed senior editor, Plambeck admitted, however, that the Times did look into the Roberts' children, saying, "We have not pursued the issue after the initial inquiries, which detected nothing irregular about the adoptions."

Plambeck hinted that Times executive editor Bill Keller may have played a role in nixing the probe, explaining that the top Timesman "told us that he would not stand for any gratuitous reporting about [Roberts'] children."

"[Keller] said that as an adoptive parent he is particularly sensitive about this issue."

Plambeck's denial first appeared on columnist Michelle Malkin's Web site, and was issued in response to complaints from her readers.

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