DOJ Says It Will Not Investigate Nifong

The U.S. Department of Justice says it will not investigate former Duke lacrosse prosecutor Mike Nifong for his handling of the case.

Peter Carr is a spokesman with the Department of Justice. He says federal prosecutors should not resolve a case in which a state prosecutor applied state law in a state criminal trial.

Carr says North Carolina has started the process of protecting the integrity of judicial proceedings, holding Nifong accountable and vindicating the accused.

Nifong pursued charges in the spring of 2006 against three Duke lacrosse players falsely accused of raping an exotic dancer during an off-campus party. He resigned from his seat after state prosecutors dropped the charges and has since been disbarred.

Nifong also spent a night in jail after a judge held him criminal contempt of court for his conduct during the case.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)