Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama hasn’t yet been confirmed as U.S. attorney general, but concern already is mounting that Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley will use his vacancy-appointment power to torpedo an investigation related to his own alleged corruption.

A front-runner for the Senate appointment is Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, a fellow Republican who asked that impeachment proceedings against Bentley in the state legislature be delayed pending an investigation by his office, though he did not specify that the probe focused on the governor.

If Bentley appoints Strange to replace Sessions, the governor also can pick a new attorney general to replace Strange, potentially affecting that investigation.

"That's what the governor would call a twofer," says Selma, Alabama, Police Chief Spencer Collier, a whistleblower who helped make Bentley's alleged misconduct a national news story last year.

"I think he would have very nefarious reasons to do that," he says about a potential Strange appointment. "Whether it's a crime or not, it's just going to take the breath out of the people of Alabama."

Collier says he has heard Strange is one of two finalists for the appointment – out of 20 candidates who were interviewed – and he doubts the perception of corruption "would slow the governor down at all."

"The more he seems to get away with, the more he does," he says.

Bentley fired Collier from his position as the state's secretary of law enforcement in March, claiming possible misuse of state funds. A special grand jury and a state audit found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Collier says he actually was fired as retaliation after he disobeyed an order from Bentley not to sign an affidavit in the corruption case against Republican House Speaker Mike Hubbard, who was convicted in June and sentenced to four years in prison.

Selma, Ala., Police Chief Spencer Collier says Gov. Robert Bentley belongs in prison. AP Photo

At about the same time he was fired, Collier alleged what he said was an open secret in Alabama politics: that the governor was sleeping with senior aide Rebekah Mason, whose husband is a Bentley appointee, raising questions about misuse of resources. Both Mason and Bentley have denied having a "physical" relationship, though recorded comments featured Bentley telling Mason he loved her and talking about touching her breasts.

Strange has openly pursued the Senate seat poised to be vacated by Sessions, and there's little question whether it will soon become available. Alabama's elected secretary of state, John Merrill, a Republican, says Strange already is raising money for what will be either a re-election bid in a likely 2018 Senate special election, or a challenge for the seat.

Merrill confirms that under Alabama law, the governor is able to pick a successor to Strange, who announced his intention to campaign for the Senate seat before interviewing with Bentley.

"I know there are some people who are concerned that if he selects Gen. Strange as senator, they will have 'cut a deal' to ensure the prosecution of the governor – the investigation that could lead to the prosecution of the governor – is stymied," he says.

But, Merrill says, "I know four people who have talked to the governor" about replacing Strange and that "the four I know who have talked to the governor about that possess that kind of personal integrity, that they would continue the investigation."

Collier is not so optimistic. He says he's concerned about one particular candidate to replace Strange who is close to the governor.

The Selma police chief says prison "is where [Bentley] should be" and that counterintuitively, scandal has "made him more arrogant. I think he thinks nobody will do anything to him." He points out that Bentley flew the Masons to the nation's capital aboard a state aircraft last month to attend President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Alabama state Rep. Ed Henry, a Republican who has sought Bentley's impeachment, says the mere appearance of impropriety is a reason for the governor not to pick Strange.

"I think that would look like collusion and conspiracy," Henry says.

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, pictured at the Optimist Club's 2015 Respect For Law Banquet. Eric Schultz/AL.com

Fellow state Rep. Allen Farley, a Republican who called on Bentley to resign, says he's also concerned.

"You want to say, 'Absolutely not, these people are above that, they have too much integrity,'" Farley says. "But over the last couple of years I think people who would stand up and make that statement are hesitant. They're thinking like I think: 'Gosh, I hope not!'"

Yasamie August, a spokesperson for Bentley, did not directly address concerns about a Strange appointment by press time.

"The governor interviewed 20 very qualified candidates," August says. "The announcement will be made soon and the governor has not narrowed the list."

Strange spokesman Mike Lewis says the attorney general's office has a policy of not commenting on investigations, and therefore cannot confirm Bentley is even the target of a probe.