A U.S. Congressional candidate who claims to be the chairman and the chief of police of the Louisiana Band of Choctaw Indians was arrested shorty after
qualifying for the race, according to news reports.
Billy Burkette, who is running as an Independent for Louisiana's 5th Congressional District, is accused of impersonating a law enforcement officer. He proclaimed his innocence as he was led out in handcuffs at the Secretary of State's office, The Monroe News Star reported.
"They say I'm not chief of police of the Choctaw tribe," Burkette said as he was taken out of the building in Baton Rouge, the state capital, according to the paper. When asked if he was, he replied: "Yes, sir, I am."
The Louisiana Band of Choctaw Indians is apparently based in Prairieville, just outside of Baton Rouge. The tribe is recognized by the state, according to a
document from the state's Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism.
There is otherwise little information about the group, which does not appear to have petitioned for federal recognition through the
Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Louisiana is home to four federally recognized tribes, according to the
National Conference of State Legislatures.
The 5th Congressional District is currently represented by
Ralph Abraham, who is
running for re-election. He defeated Burkette in the 2016 Republican primary with a whopping 82 percent of the vote.
Read More on the Story:
Congressional candidate arrested after qualifying
(The Monroe News Star July 20, 2018)
Election sign-up ends: Interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin to run; candidate arrested; more
(The Baton Rouge Advocate July 20, 2018)
Louisiana congressional candidate arrested, accused of falsely impersonating an officer
(The Associated Press July 20, 2018)
Join the Conversation
