Criminal probe ordered in deaths of two prisoners in CIA custody

A special prosecutor has recommended a criminal probe into the deaths of two prisoners in CIA custody but cleared U.S. interrogators of wrongdoing in 99 others, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

"I have accepted his recommendation to conduct a full criminal investigation regarding the death in custody of two individuals," Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement issued Thursday afternoon. "Those investigations are ongoing. The department has determined that an expanded criminal investigation of the remaining matters is not warranted."

The special prosecutor, John Durham, examined the treatment of 101 prisoners in U.S. custody, not all of whom were held by the CIA. In a message to employees, outgoing CIA chief Leon Panetta said the agency will "cooperate fully" in the remaining cases.