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Connecticut Tribe to Build Casino Despite Lawsuit

"After the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs recognized two factions as one tribe, the newly reunited Eastern Pequots picked Rosow over Trump as their financial backer.

"…Rosow cited a handful of reasons why the tribe is not interested in working with Trump, including an infamous statement Trump made several years ago about the appearance of the Mashantucket Pequots, a closely related tribe, and the financial performance of Trump's casinos.

"Trump, who was ousted as a casino backer by the Eastern Pequots earlier this spring, is expected to claim breach of contract and other violations in a civil lawsuit to be announced today by his New London attorney, Robert I. Reardon Jr. Trump says he signed an ironclad, seven-year contract with the Paucatuck Eastern Pequots in 1999 for the exclusive right to negotiate a casino development and management contract and provided the tribe with more than $10 million to help it win federal recognition.

"…Rosow said he and the tribe would defend the Trump lawsuit and would consider filing counterclaims or pursuing any recourse they may have with regulatory agencies.

"…Trump has opposed casino development in New York and has worked to get a share of the Connecticut casino market. He reportedly paid an aide to former Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim $10,000 a month to keep him up to date on casino developments in that city. The Golden Hill Paugussetts eventually won the contract with the city, but they lost their preliminary bid for federal recognition, making the Eastern Pequots the most likely tribe to open the next casino in Connecticut…"

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