Ken St. Marks. Photo from Native News Project / University of Montana
Ken St. Marks keeps winning elections at the Chippewa Cree Tribe in Montana but his fellow leaders keep removing him office. The tribal council claims St. Marks engaged in "gross misconduct" and "neglected his duty," according to news reports. The decision marks the third time in less than two years that he's been ousted. "They just keep on making up lies, they keep on saying I stole money and I keep on telling them the same thing — 'Go get me indicted,'" St. Marks told The Great Falls Tribune. Despite the allegations against him, St. Marks has never been charged with any crimes in tribal or federal court. However, 18 other tribal leaders, officials and their associates have been convicted in connection with a wide-ranging corruption investigation on the Rocky Boy's Reservation, the Associated Press reported. The Guardians Project, as it is known in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Montana, has put the state on top of a nationwide list of judicial districts with the most government corruption prosecutions. Get the Story:
Tribal chairman ousted for third time (The Great Falls Tribune 3/4)
St. Marks removed from office (The Havre Daily News 3/4)
Montana prosecutors honored (AP 3/2)
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