Federal authorities have been looking into the use of housing funds by leaders of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

Tribal leaders have gone to Hawaii, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and Alaska in the past year, WRAL reported. They spent $45,000 to attend the National Congress of American Indians midyear conference in Nevada in June.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development looked into the spending but found no wrongdoing, according to Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-North Carolina). She requested a probe after a tribal member raised questions about the use of federal funds.

Randy Lewis said he has been interviewed by the FBI but no one will confirm whether anything is happening, WRAL reported.

The tribe receives $11.3 million in HUD funds.

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Feds investigate Lumbee travel budget (WRAL 7/24)