Calif. tribe paid $100K to meet Norton

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2002

A California tribe donated $100,000 the Republican party in an unsuccessful attempt to meet with Secretary of Interior Gale Norton, The Palm Springs Desert Sun reports.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians sent a check to the Republican party in July 2001. Chairman Richard Milanovich then wrote to Norton in August seeking a meeting about a proposed land-into-trust request.

The meeting never happened but Republican party officials spoke with Norton's chief of staff about the meeting after the donation was made. The account of the transaction was disclosed in documents released as part of a lawsuit challenging campaign finance reform legislation.

Get the Story:
Tribe�s political donationfiles part of campaign-finance suit (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 12/12)

Relevant Links:
Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians - http://www.aguacaliente.org