Two of the president's closest advisers have resigned amid an investigation into the allegations.

The scandal involves the president's closest adviser and key political power broker, as well as the nanny to the adviser's son.

The nanny claims she was taken to a basement near the presidential palace, accused of stealing a briefcase, and forced to take a polygraph test.

An investigation by the general attorney has revealed that intelligence services illegally tapped the nanny and another domestic worker's phones.

The president has denied that any government officials ordered illegal wiretaps and has pledged to support the inquiry.

The scandal has damaged the president's popularity and has been seized upon by the Colombian right to accuse the president of hypocrisy.

The investigation is being led by a former enemy of the president.

The crisis in Colombia is affecting the president's ability to bring political reform.

Appointing more left-wing loyalists to office could stem the crisis but would further break cross-party alliances and constrict the president's ability to bring political reform.

The president is trapped between his ambitions for change and Colombia's rigid legal structure and institutions that have little incentive to move forward with reforms that affect them.