The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians gave $1.15 million to two anti-gambling groups in Alabama but doesn't want to talk about them.

The tribe gave the money to Americans for Tax Reform. The money was then funneled to the Christian Coalition of Alabama, which received $850,000, and the defunct Citizens Against Legalized Lottery, which received $300,000.

The Christian Coalition has a policy against receiving "direct or indirect" support from gambling interests. An investigation concluded that the group didn't violate the policy even though Ralph Reed, the conduit for the donation, didn't state it came from a gaming tribe.

The Choctaws "provided no information" to the Christian Coalition and didn't return a request for comment from The Boston Globe.

Get the Story:
Reed is linked to a casino donation (The Boston Globe 7/6)

Relevant Links:
Christian Coalition of Alabama - http://www.ccbama.org
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians - http://www.choctaw.org

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)

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