Leech Lake Band sets February recall election for council member

Thursday, January 13, 2011  

A leader of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Indians in Minnesota will face a recall election on February 8.

Secretary/treasurer Mike Bongo extended a loan of $2.4 million loan to Bill and Kathy Bieloh, the owners of the Moondance Jam company. Bongo admitted he entered into the deal without the signature of the chairman, as required by the tribal constitution.

“I was only doing what I thought was in the best interest of the Band,” Bongo said at a council meeting when a recall petition was considered, The Bemidji Pioneer reported. “I looked at it as a good investment. Were mistakes made? Sure there were in the way we went about it. It happens. What can I say? My heart was in the right place. I did not benefit one penny from this.”

Bongo signed the loan on September 14 and the rest of the tribal council learned of the deal on September 22, the paper reported. Two days later, Bill Bieloh died.

Get the Story:
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe: Tribal Council sets date for Bongo recall election (The Bemidji Pioneer 1/13)
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