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Choctaws Testify at Congressional Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As reported by the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger: "Members of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians will be the key witnesses at a congressional hearing today focusing on links between disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his clients, mainly tribes with gaming operations.

"But today's hearing in the Senate Indian Affairs Committee might not reveal everything about the relationship between Abramoff and the Choctaws, who paid the lobbyist and an associate, Michael Scanlon, millions of dollars to look after the tribe's interests.

"The Choctaws negotiated with Senate investigators regarding which information they would turn over to the committee, according to letters from Choctaw Chief Phillip Martin and tribal attorney C. Bryant Rogers.

"…Abramoff is accused of bilking the Choctaws and other casino-owning tribes out of millions of dollars. He was pressured to resign from the lobbying firm of Greenberg Traurig last year and is the subject of investigations by the FBI, Internal Revenue Service and the inspector general of the Interior Department.

"…Martin won't testify today. Instead the tribe is sending Charlie Benn, the Choctaws' director of administration, Donald Kilgore, the tribe's attorney general, and tribal officer Nell Rogers…"

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