Deputy Attorney General James Cole authorized the seizure of two months’ worth of Associated Press phone records, Attorney General Eric Holder confirmed during sworn testimony before the House Judiciary Committee.

Holder repeatedly pleaded ignorance about the wiretapping of AP editors and reporters, saying he had recused himself from what was evidently an investigation about a CIA counter-terrorism operation in Yemen last year. However, after initially denying knowledge of who at the federal Department of Justice authorized the secret seizure of the wire service’s phone records during Wednesday’s hearing, Holder said: ”I’ve just been given a note that we have in fact confirmed that the deputy was the one who authorized these subpoenas.”

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READ MORE:

• Tom Cohen and Michael Pearson, CNN: Holder cites recusal in saying little about AP probe
• Sahil Kapur, Talking Points Memo: Holder: Deputy AG James Cole Authorized AP Subpoenas
• Matt Purple, American Spectator: Deputy AG Being Set Up to Take the Fall
• Philip Bump, Atlantic Wire: Holder to Hearing: Ask Somebody Else