White Earth chairwoman seeks ouster of Gonzales

Wednesday, May 30, 2007  

Erma Vizenor, chairwoman of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, said U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should resign over his role in the firings of several federal prosecutors.

Vizenor praised the work of former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger of Minnesota. Although he was not ousted, he was targeted by Department of Justice political appointees because he spent "too much time" on Indian issues, a former aide said.

"Federal funds and resources are at an all-time low on the White Earth Indian Reservation as a $600 billion war rages on," Vizenor said in a statement, The Grand Forks Herald reported. "We need the Tom Heffelfingers."

Five of the eight fired prosecutors represented states with significant Indian Country. All were members of the Native American Issues Subcommittee, which Heffelfinger chaired. His successor in that post, Margaret Chiara of Michigan, was among those who were ousted.

Get the Story:
White Earth official calls for resignation (The Grand Forks Herald 5/30)
pwpwd

Transcripts:
Goodling Testifies Before The House Judiciary Committee | David Iglesias on U.S. Attorney Firings, Goodling Testimony

Related Stories:
NCAI concerned about DOJ's commitment to tribes (5/29)
Heffelfinger supports probe into 'broken' DOJ (5/25)
Ex-DOJ aide cites 'concern' about Indian focus (5/24)
Fired U.S. Attorney of New Mexico has Native roots (5/22)
Sen. Tester calls on U.S. Attorney to resign (05/03)
U.S. Attorney in Montana protected by Patriot Act (5/2)
Heffelfinger was a target in U.S. Attorney purge (4/27)
Sen. Coburn tells Gonzales to resign over firings (4/20)
Attorney firings reviewed at Senate hearing (4/20)
Senate panel moves Gonzales testimony to Thursday (4/17)
House committee hits Gonzales with first subpoena (4/11)
Indian Country crime an issue in US Attorney firing (4/2)
Opinion: Fired U.S. Attorney helped Michigan tribes (3/30)
Documents shed light on US Attorney firings (3/20)
E-mails shed new details on US Attorney for Arizona (3/14)
Sen. Domenici hires law firm over US Attorney flap (3/8)
Ousted US Attorneys to testify before House panel (3/2)
Ousted US Attorney cites Republican pressure (3/1)
US Attorney ousted over tribal death penalty cases (2/19)
Hopi woman passed over for interim US Attorney (2/1)
Hopi woman touted as next US Attorney for Arizona (1/29)
Mother Jones: Navajo Nation debates death penalty (1/18)
Bush urged to nominate Hopi woman for U.S. Attorney (01/05)
Heffelfinger: Tribes need homeland security funds (6/9)
Indian gaming law proposal undergoes big changes (02/28)
Tom Heffelfinger to step down as U.S. Attorney (02/15)
Tribal leaders attend meeting on Red Lake shootings (02/01)
Red Lake families meet in private with Heffelfinger (01/31)
California tribes spar over gaming machine distinctions (01/24)
Louis Jourdain sentenced to juvenile rehabilitation (01/17)
Gaming proposal moving forward despite opposition (01/16)
Judge won't allow access to Jourdain sentencing (12/19)
IGRA amendments tough on many, especially tribes (12/12)
Judge to decide on access to Jourdain sentencing (12/02)
Red Lake shootings case not over despite plea (12/01)
McCain proposes major amendments to IGRA (11/30)
Louis Jourdain pleads guilty to one charge (11/30)
DOJ releases proposed changes to Indian gaming law (10/06)
DOJ proposes major change in Indian gaming law (09/16)
Heffelfinger praises actions in Red Lake shooting (08/24)
Senate panel supports NIGC on Class II rules (04/29)
Federal prosecutor seeks to change 'national shame' (04/19)