BREAKING NEWS

Ashcroft is recusing himself from the Plame leaks probe. A special prosecutor has been appointed.

Attorney General John Ashcroft will recuse himself from the Justice Department's investigation of the unauthorized disclosure of an undercover CIA officer’s identity, U.S. officials told NBC News on Tuesday.

The officials did not give a reason for Ashcroft’s decision, which Deputy Attorney General James B. Comey was to announce a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

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