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FEBRUARY 16, 2001

Contrary to a media report published on Thursday, the Eastern Pequot Tribe of Connecticut is not shy about its financial backer says tribal councilor Kathy Sebastian.

Sebastian is an attorney and tribal member who has testified on behalf of the tribe at a number of public hearings. Last week, she detailed the tribe's 20 year struggle for federal recognition at a Congressional field hearing organized by Representative Rob Simmons (R-Conn).

This week, she testified at a hearing before the Connecticut state legislature on Wednesday and questioned Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's request for $1.3 million in funds to monitor the tribal recognition process. But she is disputing a report The New London Day, a regional newspaper, published about that hearing.

When asked by Senator Catherine W. Cook (R) to name the tribe's financial backer, the paper said Sebastian declined to answer. The paper then identified him as Donald Trump.

Not surprisingly, Sebastian was upset.

"Along with many others in Indian Country and beyond, we are horrified at the thought of any connection with him," said Sebastian of The Donald.

Sebastian notes that she did indeed tell the Environment Committee on Wednesday that their backer is Eastern Capital Development, a company owned by David Rosow, a banker and golf resort developer. She also said the public is well aware of the company's relationship with the tribe. In fact, The Day conducted an interview with Rosow in May 2000.

"We disclosed our financial supporter and advisor, David Rosow, almost a year ago," said Sebastian. "His experience, philosophy and moral judgments could not be farther from Mr. Trump’s. Based on his history of bad relationships with Native Americans, we would never have considered an alliance with Trump."

Sebastian said The Day has promised to make the correction in its story but she worries some damage may have already been done.

"Wherever the incorrect information came from, its publication could have the unfortunate result of undermining our tribe by linking us with him," said Sebastian.

Trump has a troubled history when it comes to tribes. Facing direct competition from tribal casinos, he told Congress in 1993 that some Indians "don't look like Indians to me and don't look like Indians to Indians."

When the Seminole Tribe lost a 1996 Supreme Court case in which they challenged the state of Florida's refusal to negotiate a Class III gaming compact with them, Trump said Indian gaming is bad for states and for Native Americans. But two years later, he began working with the tribe to develop and manage their casinos.

Trump also jumped on the gaming bandwagon in California and recently signed a letter of intent to consider managing a casino with the Twenty Nine Palms Band of Luiseno Mission Indians. The deal would bring $60 million to the tiny tribe and its reservation in southern California.

At the same time, he funded an anti-Indian media campaign focused on the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of New York. A casino the tribe wants to build in the Catskills would compete directly with his New Jersey kingdom and Trump and his associates sought to mobilize state lawmakers and the public against it.

As a result, he was put under investigation by the state lobbying commission and later disclosed that he also funded two anti-gaming lawsuits. He finally apologized for the entire affair last December.

Related Stories:
Tribe criticizes recognition fight (Tribal Law 2/15)
Trump to pay fine for Indian involvement (Money Matters 10/05)
Trump eyes Indian casino in NYC (Money Matters 9/6)
Trump funded anti-Indian ads (Money Matters 08/30)
Eastern Pequot recognition likely, says backer (Tribal Law 05/10)