The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has rehired a lobbyist accused of participating in the potential defrauding of the tribe, The Jackson Clarion Ledger reports.

The tribe hired Kevin Ring, who used to work with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff at the Greenberg Traurig firm and at Preston Gates. Ring [Bio] now works for Barnes & Thornburg. He has been hired by the Choctaws to lobby on general tribal issues, according to a Senate filing [Registration].

Ring appeared at the Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday that focused on the tribe. He refused to testify, invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

In documents released by the committee, Ring wondered whether he could pass on his $800 university club dues to the tribe. "There is no way to bury this in the Choctaw ... bill?" Ring asked Abramoff in an e-mail.

Ring also worked for Sandia Pueblo in New Mexico, one of Abramoff's former clients, according to the committee. McCain said Ring "didn't provide any services" the tribe, whose leader, Gov. Stuwart Paisano, has said Abramoff wasn't worth his high fees.

At the hearing, Choctaw witnesses said Abramoff and his associates performed legitimate work but that they attempted to overbill the tribe, participated in a "gimme five" kickback scheme and used tribal funds for unauthorized purchases.

Nell Rogers, the tribe's planner, said she was "beyond anger" after learning of the alleged deceit but that she felt betrayed. Tribal representatives didn't return phone calls from the Clarion-Ledger to comment about the hiring of Ring, the paper said.

Get the Story:
New tribe rep linked to old (The Jackson Clarion Ledger 6/24)

Committee Exhibits:
Part 1 | Part 2

Witness List/Testimony:
Oversight Hearing Before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on the In Re Tribal Lobbying Matters, Et Al (June 22, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians - http://www.choctaw.org

Related Stories:
Senate committee plans to issue lobbying report (6/24)
Under scrutiny, Choctaw tribe goes into hiding (6/24)
Update on Senate hearing into lobbying scandal (6/23)
Mississippi Choctaws focus of Senate lobbying hearing (6/23)
Mississippi Choctaws at center of lobbying hearing (6/22)
NIGA issues statement on tribal lobbying scandal (6/22)
Coushatta Tribe gave millions to lobbyists, campaigns (6/22)
Influence peddling on the rise in Washington (6/22)
Another hearing on Abramoff lobbying scandal (06/21)
Reed's story on Tiguas doesn't match Abramoff's (06/20)
Opinion sought on GOP group's use of tribal funds (06/16)
Other tribes attended White House meeting with Bush (06/08)
Two tribes paid $50K to attend White House meeting (06/07)
Miss Choctaws say gaming cash not used to lobby (05/31)
Gaming leads to new concerns about lobbyists (05/26)
Ralph Reed changes story on $1.15M tribal donation (05/20)
GOP group funneled tribal money to anti-gamblers (05/13)
Money tribes gave to Abramoff ended up in Israel (4/25)
McCain plans to finish hearings on lobbyist scandal (03/21)
FEC ruling separates tribes from their businesses (03/14)
Tribe gave $75K to group founded by Norton (3/14)
Mississippi Choctaw lawyer referred Abramoff (11/22)
High-priced lobbyist scam linked to lawmakers (11/18)
Choctaw Tribe's lobbying documents kept secret (10/4)
Ex-tribal lobbyists slammed in Senate hearing (9/30)
Busy Indian Affairs Committee hits snag on big issues (06/17)
Indian Affairs Committee activity this week (6/15)
Choctaw chief Martin defends embattled GOP lobbyist (04/09)
McCain pushing Choctaw tribe to cooperate with probe (4/8)
GOP lobbyist scores big with tribes (04/03)