Mille Lacs attorney defends charges against former leader

Thursday, March 25, 2010  

The top attorney for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe of Minnesota says the tribe cooperated with a county investigation that led to charges against former executive Melanie Benjamin.

Solicitor General Rjay Brunkow said the tribe put its own case against Benjamin on hold. “Elected officials decided they’d rather have an independent entity prosecute the case,” Brunkow told The Mile Lacs Messenger.

The tribe referred the case to the Mille Lacs County Attorney’s Office, which charged Benjamin with stealing from the tribe's casino and with misconduct by an elected official. She allegedly used more than $52,000 in casino "comp" privileges.

Minnesota falls under Public Law 280, so the state has civil and criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country. But it's not clear whether the state's misconduct laws apply to the actions of an elected tribal official.

Get the Story:
Charges raise sovereignty questions (The Mile Lacs Messenger 3/23)

Earlier Story:
Former Mille Lacs executive charged with casino theft (3/11)