Durham County district attorney Michael B. Nifong said today he plans to resign his job, after admitting that he had “crossed the line” of ethical standards in some of the public statements he made about the Duke University lacrosse players he charged with rape.

Corey Lowenstein, The News & Observer via Associated Press
Reade W. Seligmann, left, testified at a hearing on whether Michael B. Nifong violated ethics standards in pursuing the case against the three Duke students.

An emotional Mr. Nifong made his announcement on the stand at the end of several hours of testimony in a state bar association hearing on whether he had violated ethical standards for prosecutors.

Joe Cheshire, a lawyer for one of the Duke defendants, said afterward “I believe it’s a cynical, political attempt to save his law license. His apology is far too late.”