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Bush, George W.

Ashcroft Recuses Himself from CIA Leak Investigation, Patrick Fitzgerald to Take Over

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

US Attorney General John Ashcroft, under pressure to step aside, has recused himself from the investigation into the leak of the identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame. Patrick Fitzgerald, the US attorney in Chicago, will take over the probe and report to Ashcroft's deputy, James Comey. The investigation aims to discover who leaked Plame's name to Robert Novak, a syndicated columnist, in July.

Key Takeaways:

  • John Ashcroft, the US Attorney General, has recused himself from the investigation into the CIA leak, citing "an abundance of caution" and the need to avoid any potential conflict of interest.
  • Patrick Fitzgerald, the US attorney in Chicago, will take over the investigation, reporting to Ashcroft's deputy, James Comey.
  • The investigation aims to discover who leaked the name of CIA officer Valerie Plame to Robert Novak, a syndicated columnist, in July.
  • The leak is considered a federal crime, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
  • The White House has come under criticism for the leak, with Democrats calling for the appointment of a special counsel to ensure an independent investigation.
  • The investigation has already interviewed dozens of White House officials, including Karl Rove, the President's top political advisor, and Scott McClellan, the press secretary.
  • The CIA, Defence Department, and State Department have also been involved in the probe.
  • Ashcroft has been under pressure to step aside since late September, when the CIA controversy was at its height.

Statistics:

  • 10 years: the maximum prison sentence for the federal crime of leaking classified information.
  • 2: the number of senior administration officials who told Robert Novak that Valerie Plame had suggested her husband, Joseph Wilson, be sent to Niger to investigate claims of an Iraqi effort to source nuclear material.
  • Dozen(s): the number of White House officials interviewed as part of the FBI's investigation into the leak.

Sources:

  • "Ashcroft recuses himself from CIA leak investigation" by Marianne Brun-Rovet, Washington, (no publication date).
  • State of the Union address by President George W. Bush.

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