Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal broke a court order by meeting with Interior Secretary Gale Norton without informing the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, a federal judge ruled.

The state and the tribe had agreed not to contact Interior officials without notification. But Blumenthal wrote and faxed a letter to Norton complaining about the recognition process -- specifically mentioning the tribe -- and later met to ask Norton to impose a moratorium on new tribes. [See documents]

"Such conduct, at the very least, appears improper and threatens to subvert the integrity of the appeal process itself. Further, it permitted no opportunity to the tribe to counter the presentation to Secretary Norton," U.S. District Judge Peter C. Dorsey wrote in response.

Blumenthal is fighting the Bureau of Indian Affairs' decision to recognize the tribe.

Get the Story:
Judge Sides With Tribe Over Blumenthal (The New London Day 6/18)
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