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MAY 8, 2001

Milwaukee Journal-Star columnists Cary Spivak and Dan Bice reported on Monday that the Menominee Nation has written a letter to its casino investor threatening to cut ties unless the group pays $804,450.

By threatening to cut ties, the tribe is hoping to cut controversial Nii-Jii Entertainment out of the picture, officials told the pair. Nii-Jii has been criticized by the tribe and others because its partners allegedly made a secret deal to pay a lobbying firm $46.5 million if the casino won approval.

The lobbying firm included a top aide to former Governor Tommy Thompson, now head of the Department of Health and Human Services. Thompson denies knowledge of the financial arrangement.

Spivak and Bice on Saturday said the lobbying partners met with opponents of another tribal casino in order to kill it.

The tribe is planning on meeting with potential new management partners as early as this week, say Spivak and Bice.

Get the Story:
Spivak and Bice: Menominee to swap managers of casino plan (The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 5/7)
Thompson pals quietly met with casino foes (The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 5/5)

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Role in casino decision questioned (4/16)