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THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2002

White House officials told Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) that two Pequot tribes in Connecticut would not receive federal recognition, The New London Day reports today.

"A week or two before the decision, people were saying these petitions were going to be denied,” Simmons told the paper's editorial board. "When the ultimate decision was announced, I was stunned."

The paper does not cite which White House aides made the comments, nor does it report if Simmons named the staff members. Simmons' chief of staff said the information came from “people in the White House who had an interest in the issue."

Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb recognized the Eastern Pequot Tribe and the Paucatuck Eastern Tribe as factions of one historic tribe.

Get the Story:
Simmons 'stunned' by Eastern Pequot decision (The New London Day 8/1)
Courtney says Democrats ready for 2nd District battle (The New London Day 8/1)

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