The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals denied a petition to rehear a lawsuit challenging the recognition of Homer Bear Jr. as the leader of the Meskwaki Tribe of Iowa.

Bear was elected following an internal leadership dispute that had shuttered the tribe's casino. The Bureau of Indian Affairs later recognized Bear as the legitimate leader.

A group of Meskwakis sued the BIA but the 8th Circuit ruled this past March that it couldn't get involved in an internal tribal matter even though former acting assistant secretary Aurene Martin recognized Bear and his allies as the legitimate tribal leaders without hearing from the other side.

Bear spent $1.2M to on Greenberg Traurig, Jack Abramoff's old lobbying firm. Records show Abramoff didn't represent the tribe but his associates did.

Get the Story:
Appeals court denies rehearing in Meskwaki tribe dispute (AP 5/26)

Court Decision:
Meskwaki Election Board v. BIA (March 3, 2006)

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