Business Deals

Creek Nation council pushes leader to resign over gaming deal

Friday, March 20, 2015

Chief George Tiger will speak at Kansas State University next Tuesday. Image from KSU Chapman Center

The Muscogee National Council continues to pressure Chief George Tiger to resign for his involvement in a controversial casino deal.

At an emergency session last night, the council voted 12 to 2 to pass a no confidence resolution against Tiger, the leader of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma. The measure cites his deal to promote a casino for the Kialegee Tribal Town and makes other allegations about his management style.

Tiger's actions are "considered unethical and/or illegal according to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Constitution and laws," the resolution states.

Tiger has defended his decision to sign the deal, saying he made it as a private citizen in November 2009. However, an investigation by The Tulsa World showed that he accepted checks after being sworn into the council in early 2010.

The final payment came in September 2011. Two months later, Tiger won election as chief of the tribe and eventually came out against the Kialegee casino but he has characterized those payments as campaign contributions from the developer of the project.

Meanwhile, tribal members gave filed a removal petition against Tiger. Organizers need to gather least 3,290 signatures -- or 20 percent of registered voters -- within 60 days to put the issue before the national council.

If the effort succeeds, it will be up to the council to hold impeachment proceedings. It would take a three-fourths vote -- or 12 of the 16 members -- to remove Tiger.

Besides issuing a letter to tribal members, Tiger has not said much about the controversy. But he told News on 6 that he will make a statement to citizens at the appropriate time.

Get the Story:
Creek Tribal Council Votes 'No Confidence' For Chief (News on 6 3/19)
A Vote Of No Confidence (KTUL 3/19)
Muscogee Creek Nation council passes vote of no confidence in chief (Fox News 3/19)
Creek Nation council votes no confidence in Chief George Tiger (The Tulsa World 3/20)