"I have been quiet for a long time.

In an atmosphere overwhelmed by lies, hostility and corruption and dominated by a tribal administration that used fear and intimidation to quiet the uncooperative, I am not sure anything I might have said in the past four years would have mattered. The truth needed to be acknowledged in a way that is irrefutable.

That day has come. While for many members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Monday was a day of vindication, there are still those who believe Glenn Marshall was some kind of a hero. They believe he achieved something through bullying, arrogance, manipulation and illegal activity, including stealing money, that was much needed for tribal programs and services, something we could not have achieved otherwise.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

We did not need anyone to lie to Congress about military service.

We did not need anyone to create secret entities to hide $4 million.

We did not need anyone to make illegal campaign contributions.

We did not need anyone to manipulate our tribal constitution to control elections and due process.

And we certainly did not need to shun any tribal members for seeking transparency."

Get the Story:
Paula Peters: Wampanoag didn't need to cheat (The Cape Cod Times 12/19)

More Stories:
Hendricks blames infighting, media for jeopardizing tribe's casino bid (The Cape Cod Times 12/20)
Marshall fallout puts protégé under scrutiny (The Cape Cod Times 12/21)

Court Documents:
Charge of Information | Plea Agreement

Related Stories:
Boston Magazine: Glenn Marshall's Bad Plan (12/19)
Illegal Mashpee Wampanoag donations traced (12/18)
Casino foes attack Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (12/17)
Former Mashpee Wampanoag leader pleads guilty (12/16)
State not worried about Mashpee guilty plea (12/16)