WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Justice Department ethics office has recommended reopening some prisoner-abuse cases involving the CIA during the Bush administration, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday.

The source said the recommendation has been given to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who is expected to decide soon on whether to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the CIA abuse cases involving prisoners, including terrorism suspects.

A criminal investigation could present political problems for President Barack Obama, who has said that he would rather move forward on the issue and focus on his top priorities of health care and climate change.

(Reporting by James Vicini, Editing by Stacey Joyce)