Politics
Hopi Tribe drops lobbyist who worked with Abramoff


The Hopi Tribe of Arizona has ended its relationship with Kevin Ring, a former associate of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and his law firm.

The tribe had rehired Ring, who refused to testify at last week's Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing, earlier this year. Ring represented the tribe when he worked with Abramoff at Greenberg Traurig.

Ring [Bio] then went to work for Barnes & Thornburg but has since resigned, according to The Arizona Republic. The paper said the Hopis ended their contract with the firm, which continues to represent the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, who were the focus of the June 22 hearing.

According to Senate documents, Ring was representing the Hopis [Image], the Choctaws [Image] and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts [Image], which is not federally recognized. He also registered to lobby on behalf of numerous local governments [Registrations: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3].

Get the Story:
Scandal has Hopi Tribe lacking a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. (The Arizona Republic 6/28)

Committee Exhibits:
Part 1 | Part 2

Witness List/Testimony:
Oversight Hearing Before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on the In Re Tribal Lobbying Matters, Et Al (June 22, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Hopi Tribe - http://www.hopi.nsn.us

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