Grassley Wants Special Prosecutor To Probe Leaks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee is criticizing Attorney General Eric Holder for appointing two federal prosecutors to look into national security leaks.

Sen. Chuck Grassley says he wants the attorney general to appoint an independent special prosecutor to look into the leaks, rather than Holder's choice, U.S. Attorneys Ron Machen and Rod Rosenstein, who hold political appointments. Grassley was referring to a procedure by which an outside special counsel who is not with Justice Department conducts the leak investigations.

Holder praised the two U.S. attorneys as experienced and highly respected.

Machen and Rosenstein were appointed to oversee investigations into who leaked information about U.S. involvement in cyberattacks on Iran and an al-Qaida plot to place an explosive device aboard a U.S.-bound flight.