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ASHCROFT ASSIGNS KEY AIDES TO

WASHINGTON -- Attorney General John Ashcroft assigned three senior aides to the Department of Justice this week. David Ayres has accepted the position of Ashcroft's Chief of Staff and David Israelite will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor. Mindy Tucker has been appointed Director of Public Affairs and will act as senior spokeswoman for the Department.

"I am pleased to have these three highly experienced professionals in the Department of Justice. They will play a vital role in the successful and competent administration of this Department," said Ashcroft.

Prior to his appointment, David Ayres spent 13 years on Capitol Hill, serving for six years as then-U.S. Senator Ashcroft's Chief of Staff. Ayres received his MBA from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and worked previously for U.S. Senator John Danforth and as a campaign aide for Senator Christopher Bond.

David Israelite will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff to Attorney General Ashcroft. Israelite is a former aide to Ashcroft and also served as Director of Political and Governmental Affairs at the Republican National Committee. He is a former Administrative Assistant and Campaign Manager to Senator Christopher Bond and attorney at the Kansas City, Missouri, firm of Bryan Cave LLP. Israelite received his JD from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.

Tucker previously served as Press Secretary to the Bush-Cheney campaign in Austin, Texas. Following John Ashcroft's nomination for Attorney General, Tucker acted as Press Secretary during his Senate confirmation hearings. Prior to serving President Bush, Tucker worked as Deputy Communications Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee and Communications Director to Representative Sam Johnson.

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