Obama nominates Pima County judge for U.S. Attorney

March 22, 2012

President Barack Obama has nominated a Pima County judge to be Arizona’s next U.S. Attorney. From Phoenix, KJZZ’s Steve Goldstein has more.

STEVE GOLSTEIN: The nominee is Pima County Superior Court Judge John Leonardo, who began in that position in 1993. Prior to that, Leonardo was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for Arizona for 11 years. Arizona’s U.S. Senators John McCain and John Kyl issued a statement expressing support for Leonardo’s nomination. If he’s confirmed, Leonardo will replace acting U.S. Attorney Ann Birmingham Scheel. She took over when Dennis Burke resigned the position in the wake of an investigation into the Fast and Furious gun walking operation.