The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians helped former congressman Bob Riley's campaign for governor of Alabama, The Decatur Daily reports.

According to records examined by the paper, convicted lobbyist Michael Scanlon used $75,000 in Choctaw funds to help Riley. Scanlon sent a $50,000 check to the National Republican Congressional Committee just a few days before the NRCC sent money to Riley's campaign.

The records show the money was part of "Operation Orange," a campaign the Choctaws funded in order to preserve their gaming enterprise. Alabama -- home to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians -- was considered a threat.

The tribe spent $4.5 million over two years to fund Operation Orange. Another tribal leader said he was told that the Choctaws spent $13 million in Alabama, a claim the Choctaws have denied.

Get the Story:
Lobbyist records show casino funds marked for Riley (The Decatur Daily 8/15)

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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