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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[BlessedBeGod]

Anyone know anything about Patrick Fitzgerald?

[alisasny]

This was a clear case of the reporter jumping the gun with too little info. He literally spoke it as it came over his ear piece. Did any other station make this flub except fox?

[Moose4]

Well, let me get my heart rate back down to normal...

Recusing himself. OK, that makes more sense.

}:-)4

[Cathryn Crawford]

He's the US attorney in Chicago.

[The G Man]

FOX News DID report that he was "resigning" and then quickly came back with a correction saying he was "recusing" himself.

[MeekOneGOP]

Recusing himself ? Wow. That is a WORLD of difference than RESIGNING ! Sheesh.

Way to go, FOX ...

[A Citizen Reporter]

Sorry to burst your little bubble. Funny thing is every RAT I know has been gunning for Ashcroft since the day President Bush announced his cabinet. Today they thought they saw a ray of light......TOO BAD!

[Cathryn Crawford]

I wasn't watching Fox. I just saw the post and turned on the first channel I came to, which was MSNBC.

[ken5050]

The reporte is a graduate of the Jayson Blair school of journalism...

[Quilla]

Sounds like an error Rita Cosby could easily make.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

"If you're not a liberal by the time you're 20, you have no heart. If you're not a conservative by the time you're 30, you have no brain."

That's what mom said.

Churchill said........

"If you're not a liberal by the time you're 20, you have no heart. If you're not a conservative by the time you're 40, you have no brain."

[Dave S]

I find this odd. Anyone have any insight into why Ashcroft would so easily fold?

He shouldnt be running the investigation as the FBI, one of his agencies is being investigated. Additionally since the White House is under scrutiny for what they knew its only correct that a political appointee not head the investigation.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I remember the libs laughing at Ashcroft losing the Mo. election to a dead guy. They're sure not laughing now.

[stylin19a]

He's the guy that just got former Ill. Gov. Lyin Ryan indicted 6 different ways from Sunday.

[Eva]

Do you know what recusing means? So, Ashcroft is not going to testify about the leak, big deal. There was no law broken, anyway. The woman was not an undercover agent, nor had she been for the requisite four years prior to the statement regarding her employment.

[Cathryn Crawford]

It may have sounded that way to him. He just probably should have relaxed and taken a second listen. I don't think he was being deliberately misleading.

[TomGuy]

FOX News DID report that he was "resigning" and then quickly came back with a correction saying he was "recusing" himself.

Initially, the FoxNews header was "stepping down". That caused the question: Stepping down from the probe? or as AG? Thus, the resulting overreaction. I remained calm the whole time. lol. [aka, shocked]

[Salvation]

Thanks for deleting my thread. I lost the whole post page and had to redo it! LOL!

And 20+ posts later!

[The G Man]

Why yes, yes I do, thanks.

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

[anglian]

Public announcment to be made in an hour or two says MSNBC.