Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff told a tribal leader that Mississippi Choctaw Chief Phillip Martin spent $13 million to help elect Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R), the Senate Indian Affairs Committee said last week.

William Worfel, the former vice chairman of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, said Martin spent the money to protect the Choctaw's gaming enterprise. Since taking office, Riley has taken a tough stance on gaming, including efforts by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

There is no confirmation in the Senate report that the Choctaws spent that amount of money to help Riley get elected. But the tribe did spent $5.2 million to oppose the expansion of gaming in Alabama and Mississippi.

Abramoff boasted of the Choctaw spending to help convince the Coushattas to oppose alleged threats to their gaming enterprise, the Senate report said.

Get the Story:
Senate report: former tribe leader says money spent in Alabama (AP 6/27)

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Abramoff Report:
�GIMME FIVE�� INVESTIGATION OF TRIBAL LOBBYING MATTERS (June 2006)

Exhibits:
Pre-2001 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | Undated | Finance

Misisssippi Choctaw/DOI Letters:
Chief Martin/Jim Cason Correspondence

Relevant Links:
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians - http://www.choctaw.org
Read About Reed - http://www.readaboutreed.com
Stop Ralph Reed - http://www.stopralphreed.com
Ralph Reed - http://www.ralphreed.com
Century Strategies - http://www.censtrat.com

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