Tribes in Montana should enact laws to prevent retaliation against whistleblowers, The Great Falls Tribune says in an editorial.

The paper cites the case of Joe McKay, an attorney who publicized alleged misuse of federal funds by the Blackfeet Nation. The tribe fired him as its attorney and suspended his license to practice law on the reservation.

"Any government -- local, state, tribal or federal -- that hides its business from the public is ripe for corruption," the paper says. "Even more important, such a government is less likely to have the support and trust of the people it serves."

The paper doesn't consider the issue of the attorney-client privilege that McKay may have broken by going public with the issue.

McKay had been performing legal services for long Blackfeet leader Earl Old Person as part of the Cobell Indian trust fund suit suit. McKay filed court documents and talked to the press about the case on behalf of Old Person, who was removed as a named plaintiff last year.

Get the Story:
Editorial: Protect whistleblowers, protect democracy (The Great Falls Tribune 2/10)

Relevant Links:
Blackfeet Nation - http://www.blackfeetnation.com

Related Stories:
Blackfeet Nation in dispute with former lawyer (02/03)
Fired lawyer spills beans on tribal misspending (07/21)
Blackfeet leaders call for separation of powers (05/05)
Blackfeet tribal court hears leadership dispute (04/03)
Judge removes lead plaintiff from Cobell case (03/10)