Ivan Sidney, the chairman of the Hopi Tribe of Arizona, has been suspended as of today.

The tribal council suspended Sidney after he refused to step down for an "embarrassing" incident off the reservation. Sidney admitted he drank some alcohol at a hotel in Winslow but says political opponents and the police have blown the incident out of proportion.

Sidney says his actions may have violated the tribe's code of conduct but that he didn't do anything illegal. His blood alcohol content was 0.31 percent, more than three times the legal limit for driving in Arizona.

The tribal council hired a law firm to look into the case. Sidney and his staff will remains suspended without pay until the investigation is resolved.

Get the Story:
Hopi Tribal Council suspends chairman, staff (AP 9/7)
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Hopi council suspends chairman (The Arizona Daily Sun 9/6)
Council suspends Sidney (The Gallup Independent 9/6)

Relevant Links:
Hopi Tribe - http://www.hopi.nsn.us

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