We were told dozens of times that The Big Case was the most important case in the office, and that U.S. Attorney Leura Canary would grant the prosecution virtually unlimited latitude to obtain convictions. This message created a victory-at-all-costs mentality within the prosecution. This mindset was regularly reinforced by "victory celebrations hosted by Leura Canary at every milestone in the prosecution. As you know, Leura Canary was alleged to have recused herself during this time. The Big Case prosecution team did not work within the U.S. Attorney's Office. Instead, it was in an isolated off-site location accessible only to the prosecution team. There was a complete lack of normal managerial and peer oversight at the offsite. In my personal experience, these circumstances created a perfect storm. It was an environment not at all conducive to self-control, personal or professional responsibility or accountability. In that isolated off-site location, away from any managerial oversight, the situation quickly deteriorated into a false sense of invulnerability and omnipotence among the prosecution.
What was your reaction?
I expressed my concerns directly to upper management about certain practices that I observed with alarming frequency in the preparation of the prosecution for The Big Case. In response, I was told that as a paralegal, I had no standing to question the decisions of a prosecutor. Further, I was told that if Leura Canary found out I had done so, I would certainly be subject to disciplinary action. This was even though I previously had an exemplary record, and had received a promotion to GS12 just three months prior.
Let's focus first on your actions, not the basics of the prosecution case that have been reported elsewhere for years, including Scrushy's acquittal in his first trial and the dropped charges against Siegelman in his first trial. What did you do and why?
Federal employees are required by statute to report reasonable suspicions of misconduct. We are referred to internal channels that are supposed to be "safe conduits for making whistleblower disclosures. Federal employees are repeatedly reminded of the duty to report waste, fraud, abuse and misconduct. We are assured that the Department of Justice is an Equal Employment Opportunity workplace. I considered what I had personally observed. I believed that injustices had occurred. I was very persistent and prolific in my making my whistleblower disclosures.
How so?
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