The Navajo Nation won't recognize the removal of the three top leaders of the Shiprock Chapter.

Residents voted 77-0 to put President William Lee, Vice President Donald Benally and Secretary Lula Jackson on leave pending an investigation into the chapter's finances. But the action was illegal and violated tribal law, according to an opinion from the Navajo Nation Department of Justice.

"[I]f elected officials could just be removed capriciously and without regard to any procedural guidelines, the Nation and its political subdivisions would never achieve any stability, predictability and consistency in government," attorney Brian Lewis wrote, The Farmington Daily Times reported.

Residents appointed interim leaders but Lee says he is still in charge.

Get the Story:
Shiprock meeting declared illegitimate (The Farmington Daily Times 4/22)

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Leaders of Shiprock Chapter on Navajo Nation pushed to resign (4/6)