Erma Vizenor, chairwoman of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, said U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should resign over his role in the firings of several federal prosecutors.
Vizenor praised the work of former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger of Minnesota. Although he was not ousted, he was targeted by Department of Justice political appointees because he spent "too much time" on Indian issues, a former aide said.
"Federal funds and resources are at an all-time low on the White Earth Indian Reservation as a $600 billion war rages on," Vizenor said in a statement, The Grand Forks Herald reported. "We need the Tom Heffelfingers."
Five of the eight fired prosecutors represented states with significant Indian Country. All were members of
the Native American Issues Subcommittee, which Heffelfinger chaired. His successor in that post, Margaret Chiara of Michigan, was among those who were ousted.
Get the Story:
White Earth official calls for resignation
(The Grand Forks Herald 5/30)
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Transcripts:
Goodling
Testifies Before The House Judiciary Committee | David
Iglesias on U.S. Attorney Firings, Goodling Testimony
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