Rep. Richard Pombo (R-California), the chairman of the House Resources Committee, has ordered an informal review of alleged fraud involving a California tribe seeking federal recognition.

Pombo directed the staff of the Office of Native American and Insular Affairs to look into the dispute within the Amah Mutsun Tribe. Two factions are claiming to control the tribe, with one side claiming the other forged documents that were sent to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

A Pombo spokesperson said the review was not a formal committee investigation. Pombo said he won't move forward with a bill to speed up a decision on the tribe until the review is complete.

Get the Story:
Scrutiny Ordered (The Gilroy Dispatch 9/12)

Amah Mutsun Recognition Bill:
H.R.3475

Only on Indianz.Com:
Federal Recognition Database V2.0 (May 2005)

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Forgery alleged in Amah Mutsun recognition bid (8/30)
Editorial: Congress shouldn't micromanage BIA (8/26)
Tribal group joins fight over Gilroy development (09/17)