The Jena Band of Choctaw Indians filed suit against the state of Louisiana on Wednesday, accusing politicians of conspiring with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff to block a proposed casino.
The lawsuit cites freshman Sen. David Vitter (R-Louisiana), who began fighting the tribe when he was serving in the U.S. House. The Jena Band says he worked with Abramoff and the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, a gaming tribe, to block the tribe's gaming compact and its land-into-trust applications.
Vitter denies knowing Abramoff or working on behalf of gaming interests. But his staff did work with Abramoff's firm to insert language in an appropriations bill criticizing the Jena Band's "reservation shopping" efforts.
The tribe wants to be compensated for losing out on the casino. The lawsuit was filed in state court.
Get the Story:
Choctaw band sues governor in LaSalle
(The Baton Rouge Advocate 6/2)
Relevant Links:
Jena Band of Choctaw Indians - http://www.jenachoctaw.org
Related Stories:
Links to Abramoff not an issue for Sen.
Vitter (05/30)
Bush officials
worried about off-reservation gaming (05/20)
Bloomberg: Abramoff tribes gave $1.4M to Congress
(05/19)
Column: Tribal bucks went to
Republican interests (05/13)
McCain
won't touch lawmakers in probe of Abramoff (04/28)
Both sides fighting tribe have ties to Abramoff
(03/25)
Jena Choctaw Band back in spotlight
in Louisiana (3/22)
Vitter won't say why
he OKed Abramoff fundraiser (03/17)
Vitter responsible for anti-tribal appropriations
rider (3/16)
Griles fought casino
opposed by Abramoff client (3/14)
Tribe
gave $75K to group founded by Norton (3/14)
DOI investigates contacts with group started by
Norton (03/03)
Vitter denies helping
Abramoff's former client (03/02)
Report:
Former Norton organization subpoenaed (3/1)
Tribes gave $175K to group founded by Norton
(2/28)
Coushatta Tribe sues ex-lobbyists
for $32M (11/17)
Vitter 'conned' by
group opposing tribe (11/12)
Senate
panel asks Coushatta Tribe for tapes (10/27)
Ralph Reed paid $4.1M to oppose tribes (10/26)
Congressman denies knowing of tribe's
backing (10/18)
Congressman's
anti-gaming push backed by tribe (10/15)
Coushattas used lobbyists to spy on tribes,
critics (09/13)
Coushatta member
threatened over recall effort (08/09)
Coushatta treasurer accuses NIGC of lax
oversight (04/12)
Coushatta leaders
used tribal money to pay lobbyists (4/8)
Coushatta Tribe paid $32M to lobbyist Jack
Abramoff (4/6)
Congressman builds
opposition to Choctaw tribe (02/19)
Lawmaker seeks public input on casino plans
(01/28)
Congressman to fight Jena casino
proposal (01/23)
Editorial: Say no to
tribal casino proposal (01/13)
Governor
supports tribe's land request (01/10)
Choctaw Tribe still looking for
land (09/05)
Still flapping
over Jena compact (4/5)
Jena
Choctaws still shopping (4/3)
Jena Choctaws continue search
(3/11)
Choctaw casino compact
rejected (3/8)
Jena casino
news (3/8)
Jena casino
compact denied (3/7)
Delay in
Choctaw decision sought (3/7)
La. senator opposes Choctaw casino
(3/5)
Norton lobbied on
Choctaw casino (2/28)
Foster, Choctaw for casino (2/27)
La. Choctaws facing opposition
(2/22)
Jena Choctaw plan
large casino (2/7)
Choctaw
seeking Louisiana casino (2/6)
AP: Choctaw compact approved (2/5)
Jena Band cites Abramoff in lawsuit against state
Thursday, June 2, 2005
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