Original story:

This very low-key announcement dropped into our inboxes this afternoon from Meredith Kenney, spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Don Young:

Congressman Young's legal team has been notified that after full cooperation from the Congressman, the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice has concluded their investigation and declined prosecution of Congressman Young.

We'll bring you more details as we get them.

Updated @ 3:22 p.m.:

Mum's the word from the Anchorage office of the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice. Both agencies are declining to comment on whether the investigation of Congressman Don Young is indeed done and over with and whether he is in the clear. We asked the congressman and his lawyer, John Dowd, for more information, none of which appears to be forthcoming. Young is unavailable for interviews today, according to his office. Meanwhile his attorney, Dowd, has informed us no details will be offered beyond the one-sentence press release put out by Young's office earlier today.

We weren't seeking particularly hard-hitting information, just the basics: How, when and why did the Justice Department inform the congressman's legal team that it would not pursue prosecution? Specifically -- how was the notification made? (Phone, e-mail, a letter, etc.)? If the notification came in writing, we asked to be given a copy of the relevant correspondence. And finally -- what prompted the Justice Department's willingness to confirm they will not be seeking prosecution? Did the congressman's legal team ask for the assurances? If so, why now instead of an earlier point in time?

Updated @ 4:45 p.m.:

The people looking to unseat Young are quick to point out that the congressman's brief press release doesn't clear him of wrongdoing, but merely states the feds have declined to prosecute Alaska's eldest federal statesman. It's an important distinction, say challengers Harry Crawford and Sheldon Fisher. In an interview late in the afternoon Tuesday, Fisher said now that the threat of prosecution is apparently no longer an issue it's time for Young to start talking about the entanglements that had the feds looking his way in the first place. Fisher, a Republican, and Crawford, a Democrat, both say they plan to ask Young to explain himself in upcoming forums and debates in advance of the primary election.

The men are calling on Young to speak openly and fully about a controversial $10 million earmark that benefitted a Florida developer who also happened to be a campaign donor, his ties to a wealthy Alaska businessman convicted of bribing state legislators, the passage of trucking legislation that benefitted campaign donors out of Wisconsin, and his relationship to a former aide convicted in connection to a scandal involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff, himself convicted on corruption charges.

"He has had this cloud of corruption around him for years," Crawford said late Tuesday. "He legislates for the highest bidder."

Crawford suspects Young's office intentionally released the statement in advance of the primary election and upcoming debates in order to lay the foundation to be able to say he had cooperated and was exonerated. Crawford and Fisher both say they want more details about the nature of the Justice Department's probe of Young, criminal charges they may have been considering, how many of the investigations Young faced the decision not to prosecute actually relates to, and whether the feds are bypassing charges because of problems with witnesses, lack of evidence, or other reasons.

"We'll make sure that this continues to be an issue in these debates," Fisher said, adding that his office plans to ask for enlightenment from the Department of Justice on Young's situation, with low expectations that lingering questions will be answered to the public's satisfaction. He also plans to ask Young to produce documentation in support of his representations about the Justice Department's plans for him.

"Now that the threat of federal prosecution is no longer there I think it is time for him to answer some questions," Fisher said, in a sentiment echoed by Crawford.