One source, with close ties to the Middle District office, was "shocked" to hear of Canary's retirement. The U.S. attorney had made "adamant promises" to her staff that she would not leave until her successor was confirmed, our source says.
What could a genuine investigation of Leura Canary mean on the national level? Her husband, Bill Canary, is president of the Business Council of Alabama and a long-time ally of Thomas Donohue and Karl Rove. In fact, Canary and Rove used funds from the U.S. Chamber and other corporate sponsors in the 1990s to help turn Alabama's Supreme Court from Democratic to Republican control.
It's hard to imagine that an investigation of Leura Canary would not encompass her husband. If both Canarys wind up under the white-hot light, they could point investigators to the individuals and entities who have been pulling their strings. That could lead to Tom Donohue, Karl Rove, the U.S. Chamber, even the Bush White House.
Is there some wishful thinking on my part in that last paragraph? Yes there is. Since news outlets reported that Florida suddenly had turned in George W. Bush's favor on election night 2000, we have seen one Republican scandal after another covered up or ignored. Obama's utter failure on justice issues, so far, has been shameful for a president who pledged to change the toxic environment he inherited.
As a colossal cynic on justice matters, I fully expect Leura Canary and her henchmen to somehow wriggle off the hook. But for the first time in 10-plus years, I'm seeing a glimmer of hope that someone in authority might be taking Alabama's justice cesspool seriously.
Leura Canary played a leading role in creating that cesspool, and sources say the seat under her fanny is getting warm. If justice still matters at all in this country, Canary's seat soon will become scorching hot. And some of her puppeteers might start feeling a tad uncomfortable, too.
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