Rep. Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) are asking the Obama administration not to investigate the treatment of the Freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes.

Boren and Cole, a member of the Chickasaw Nation, say an investigation threatens tribal sovereignty. President Barack Obama, on the campaign trail, opposed Congressional intervention in a dispute involving the Freedmen and the Cherokee Nation.

"I am calling on tribal nations across the U.S. to stand up against this attack on self-governance. Congressman Tom Cole and I plan to send a letter to the Attorney General urging him to honor President Obama's earlier stated position on this issue," Boren said in a statement quoted by The Hill newspaper.

A group of lawmakers, mainly from the Congressional Black Caucus, want Attorney General Eric Holder, who is African-American, to investigate Freedmen issues. They say the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole nations have failed to live up to post-Civil War treaties.

Get the Story:
Reps will ask Justice not to investigate Indian tribes (The Hill 5/6)
Reps Dan Boren, Tom Cole denounce call for freedmen inquiry (The Oklahoman 5/6)
Federal probe of 5 tribes is urged (The Tulsa World 5/6)
Federal probe requested of Five Tribes of Oklahoma over freedmen (The Oklahoman 5/5)
Dems ask Justice to probe treatment of `freedmen' (AP 5/5)

Related Stories:
African-American lawmakers seek Freedmen probe (5/5)