FBI harassed Alabama Deputy Attorney General until he committed suicide.

From the Montgomery Independent: "FBI harassed Deputy AG who committed suicide last year."

This story was forwarded to me by the man upon whom I largely base the character "Jack Durer" in Absolved. "Jack" knew Bob Caviness and describes him as "a good guy." Based upon 16 years of experience with "Jack," that's enough of a character reference for me. The weight that the FBI can bring on a person upon whom they focus is considerable. Even, sometimes especially, when they are absolutely wrong. For the wronger they are, the more desperate they get to prove they're right. I am no fan of gambling magnate Milton McGregor, and that gambling money as political contributions has corrupted Alabama politics is a matter of record, but this was just plain wrong. One other thing. If somebody ever tells you I committed suicide, they're lying. I'll fight the bastards with my last breath.

Mike
III

PS: And there are some folks who apparently believe it wasn't suicide.

A Deputy Alabama Attorney General, who committed suicide last Nov. 5th was being harassed by two FBI agents who mistakenly thought he was trying to help Milton McGregor.

Officials in the AG’s office confirmed that fact and also the tragic self-inflicted death last December after the The Independent submitted questions to them. The agents, both involved in the investigation of McGregor and the current gaming legislation issue, were Keith Baker and John H. McEachern, III.

The Deputy AG, Robert William “Bob” Caviness, was in the process of conducting a background check on an individual with the last name of McEachern, who lived in the Auburn-Opelika area. It was a matter involving worker’s comp fraud.

The Independent was told by the AG’s office that Agents Baker and McEachern became suspicious when they found out through the state’s computer data base that someone in the Attorney General’s office was conducting the search involving McEachern’s name.

“They went ballistic” according to a source at the AG’s office, “and began harassing Bob and accusing him of trying to help Mr. McGregor,” AG officials told us.

An internal investigation was conducted by the AG’s office, which, at that time was under the direction of Atty. Gen. Troy King.

The investigation completely cleared Caviness of doing anything improper.

“He was just doing his job but those idiots at the FBI wouldn’t let him alone. They (the FBI) were bound and determined to tie Bob in with trying to help McGregor,” one AG official told our reporters. Baker and McEachern were the agents who arrested McGregor at his home.
Caviness was 46 years old, with a wife and two sons. He had worked for the Montgomery Police Department, mostly in drug investigations, for 20 years before going to work for the Attorney General's Office. He lived in the Alexander City area.

Editor's Note: Out of a request by the AG's Office we initially agreed to withhold publication of this matter. However, since these FBI agents are deeply involved in the current probe with regard to illegal gambling and attempted bribery of legislators, we felt it was necessary for the information to be published.