Major development in the on-going scandal surrounding the firings of the U.S. Attorneys:

Attorney General Michael Mukasey has appointed a special prosecutor to pursue possible criminal charges against Republicans involved in the controversial firings of U.S. attorneys.

The move is the top recommendation of a Justice Department investigation that harshly criticizes Bush administration officials, members of Congress and their aides.

Results of the investigation were made public Monday. The report singled out the removal of U.S. Attorney David Iglesias (ih-GLAY'-see-us) of New Mexico as the most troubling.