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SEPTEMBER 5, 2000

In a letter to John McCain (R-Ariz), Department of Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt apologized to McCain for apparently misleading the senator about his involvement with the backers of a casino proposed by three Ojibwe tribes.

Babbitt wrote McCain the letter in 1997 apologizing for misleading him, says a report issued by Independent counsel Carol Elder Bruce. The report, issued two weeks ago, clears Babbitt of any wrongdoing involving the denial of the trust land proposal by the tribes.

Babbitt allegedly told a lawyer for the tribes that political donates by other tribes who oppose the casino helped lead to the denial of the proposal.

Get the Story:
White House ordered Babbitt to apologize to McCain, report says (AP 9/2)

Relevant Links:
The House Committee on Government Reform - www.house.gov/reform
Testimony on The Department of Interior's Denial of the Wisconsin Chippewa's Casino Application - commdocs.house.gov/committees/gro/hgoHudson.000
/hgoHudson_0f.htm
Letter to Janet Reno from the Committee on Government Reform - www.house.gov/reform/letters/210reno.htm

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Ojibwe comment period begins (Money Matters 08/01)
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