State seeks dismissal of Narragansett Tribe gaming lawsuit

Tuesday, February 28, 2012  

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin is seeking to dismiss a gaming lawsuit filed by the Narragansett Tribe.

The tribe wants to block a gaming referendum from appearing on the November ballot. The referendum allows Twin River, a non-Indian slot parlor, to operate a full-scale casino.

The tribe says the referendum is unconstitutional because it doesn't give the state enough control over the proposed casino. Similar proposals offered by the tribe were rejected by the state courts for similar reasons.

"Rhode Island is looking to protect their own, what I call their "golden goose" up there. In my opinion they're cooking it. In their quest to protect their golden goose, I think they actually are violating the tribe's civil rights," Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas told WPRI / Eyewitness News.

Get the Story:
Rhode Island moves to counter Narragansetts' casino lawsuit (The Providence Journal 2/28)
Tribe outraged over Twin River deal (WPRI 2/27)