[Califelephant]

Jim Comey was the source of the original leak?

[norton]

John Ashcroft, who was serving as attorney general, had recused himself from the investigation because of his White House contacts.

OK, sorry.
One degree of separation but recusing yourself for "white house contacts" when you ARE the source, followed by your assistant naming a prosecutor who turns out like this one did, seems an unlikely coincidence.