Cross Posted at Legal Schnauzer
Leura Canary, the notorious Bush-appointed prosecutor who was at the heart of the Don Siegelman case, is the focus of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation, sources tell Legal Schnauzer.
Canary announced her retirement as U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Alabama on May 26. But sources say the ongoing federal investigation is the real reason Canary stepped down, even though Obama nominee George Beck has not been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Louis Franklin will serve as acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District, pending Beck's confirmation.
A long-awaited Alabama federal bingo prosecution, featuring gambling magnate Milton McGregor and a number of state legislators, begins today in Montgomery. It is expected to last about two months and figures to be the biggest story of the summer in Alabama. But the investigation of Canary could prove to be the far bigger story, with potentially major ramifications on the national stage.
After all, the Canary investigation could lead to individuals who have helped shape her political agenda, such as former Bush White House strategist Karl Rove and U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue. The investigation also could show that the Obama Justice Department is not as useless as it currently appears, indicating Attorney General Eric Holder is willing to "look backwards" at apparent misconduct of the previous administration.
Technically, Canary has been under investigation by the DOJ's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) since June 2008. But we've seen no sign that Canary actually has been under genuine scrutiny. Sources, however, say that changed about two months ago--and the investigation now is serious enough that it prompted Canary to "retire."
Who is leading the Canary investigation? Why did it suddenly heat up about two months ago? What is the focus of the probe (the Siegelman case, the bingo case, something else, all of the above)? We don't have the answers to those questions yet. But sources say that Leura Canary, for perhaps the first time since her appointment, is feeling real heat.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
