Ashcroft Recuses Self From CIA Leak Probe

ABC ^

[The G Man]

Update:

Ashcroft Recuses Self From CIA Leak Probe

Attorney General John Ashcroft Will Recuse Himself From Probe Into Who Leaked Name of CIA Operative

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Dec. 30 ? Attorney General John Ashcroft will recuse himself from an investigation into who leaked the name of a CIA operative, Justice Department sources said Tuesday.

The investigation will be headed by the U.S. attorney in Chicago, Patrick Fitzgerald, who will report to Ashcroft's new deputy, James Comey, the officials said. It was not immediately clear why Ashcroft made the decision.

Investigators want to know who leaked the name of Valerie Plame, an undercover CIA officer, to syndicated columnist Robert Novak in July. Plame is married to former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, who has said he believes his wife's identity was disclosed to discredit his assertions that the Bush administration exaggerated Iraq's nuclear capabilities to build the case for war.

The leaker could be charged with a felony if identified.

Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Matter of fact I understand that Steve Spurrier has recused himself as Head Coach of the Washington Redskins. :>)

Add Calahan, Raiders. LOL!

As old Fritz Hollings would say, "They-ahs a whoooooole lotta recuuuusin goin on out they-ah!"

[VRWC_minion]

Ashcroft recused himself from another trial process since he's been AG, but darned if I can think of the circumstance Good memory

Local feds, Ashcroft recused from inquiry

By DAVID IVANOVICH
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. attorney's office in Houston has pulled out of the criminal investigation of Enron Corp. because too many prosecutors there are related to employees at the Houston energy and trading firm. <>The players
And U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft recused himself from the probe as well on Thursday, after critics pointed out he had received more than $57,000 in campaign contributions from the company and its employees.

Prosecutors in the Houston office have been looking into the Enron collapse for a number of weeks, said Michael Shelby, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

But because a number of employees in the office -- including Shelby himself -- are related to current and former Enron employees, Justice Department officials decided Wednesday the Houston office should recuse itself.

Shelby's brother-in-law, for instance, is an attorney for Enron North America, he said.

Shelby said the circumstances did not actually pose a conflict of interest, "but there is the appearance of a conflict of interest given that some relatives have suffered such grievous losses."

Some of those relatives might even be called as witnesses in the case or in civil lawsuits, Shelby said.

The U.S. Justice Department acknowledged Wednesday it has launched a criminal investigation into Enron's fall.

"The investigation itself needs to go forward expeditiously," Shelby said. "If that means we have to pull out of it, that saddens me."

The Houston office was already working on the case when Shelby took over as U.S. attorney three weeks ago. He raised the issue about the potential conflict.

[woodyinscc]

The culprit was probably surmised long ago.

Exactly right.!! Ashcroft knows he is a target of the left, and is acting accordingly, to remove any perception of impropriety. Janet Reno failed to do so, and most of us know why.!!

[prairiebreeze]

That's it. Thanks!

[prairiebreeze]

Pundit on FNC also offered an alternative explanation, that if the investigation turns up nothing conclusive (as many do) the DoJ wants somebody other than the AG to conclude that and announce the results.

Prairie

[alnick]

As long as the person in charge of the investigation has integrity, and it seems as though he might, the investigation is a good thing. The truth should come out, if it's knowable, one way or the other.

Now, let's get on with investigating those other memos ... the ones implicating the democrats on the senate intelligence and judiciary committees.

[The Wizard]

want the reason....it's a democrat.........everyone today forgets that Bob Novack is a democrat...old school, and only looks like GOP.....

Only a democrat would cause Ashcroft to recuse.....wouldn't you think.....

remember, they said appearance.....

[malia]

I think Wilson will regret the day----

[cyncooper]

Hmm...
So what exactly is being investigated, because now I'm kinda muddled up on this. There's memogate where the Dems planned to leak intel for political purposes, and there's the nonevent of Wilson.

Perhaps what Wilson was really doing over in Niger?

Perhaps who was the anonymous "CIA official" dissing the administration to the BBC by leaking inaccurate and incomplete information in order to undermine us?

Perhaps what the Plame/Wilson/Foley circle was up to?

[cyncooper]

Get on board & be upset with those that have no sense of value beyond scoring political points.

I am on board with that.

I am very upset with the Wilson/Plame duo and their scoring political points with this.

No way has this administration done the reverse regarding those lowlifes.

[cyncooper]

If I may expound on the Cliff May comments. I heard him say on tv that the person who told him about Plame was a democrat, and he interpreted the information being given to him to help explain why Wilson, an enemy of the administration, would be sent to Niger by the CIA.

May said the dem said it like "The Wilsons are really patriotic. See? His wife works at the CIA".

[lawdude]

Let the tinfoil hat party begin!

[Destro]

I agree-it was an inadvertant "leak" if that is the word. But still wrong and the "leaker" (more like a slipper) should have fessed up. Now minor issue thus becomes a major one.

[CyberAnt]

This is so hot! The dems have INSISTED Ashcroft not handle this investigation .. so the repubs put in place a guy who has the nickname of "Elliot Ness" .. ROTFLOL!!! Again .. the dems have made their demand and the door has hit them in the face one more time. They never learn!

[jmstein7]

Don't Let The Dems Get Away With Using Valerie Wilson as a Subterfuge for their Criminal Leaks!  Click Here to Hold Them Responsible!

[Valin]

If memory serves Valerie Plame is/was an analyst NOT an undercover CIA officer.

[VOA]

"Recuse" and "Democrat"...

Two words you never see in the same sentence.....
(OK, I suppose it has happened sometime in history)

[Valin]

If your assertions are true (and I have no real way of proving either the positive or negative) then why is there still an investigation

For the same reason they still say Bush said sadam was an "imminent threat". Its called politics.

[Palladin]

Right you are, Ant. The Dems have shot themselves in the foot this time.

[CyberAnt]

That would be correct .. but the dems continue to play the "operative" game with her name.