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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2001

The Bureau of Indian Affairs violated federal gaming law and the U.S. Constitution by agreeing to take 165 acres of land into trust for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut has said.

Blumenthal says former Assistant Secretary Ada Deer approved the 1996 acquisition without performing the necessary environmental assessments of the transfer. He says the tribe intends to use it for economic development, so Deer failed to abide by the provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act for such land-into-trust applications.

Blumenthal also claims the Constitution forbids the government from taking land away from a state and holding the title for a tribe.

Blumenthal's missive comes in a five-year-old dispute between his state and the Department of Interior. His major argument to stop trust acquisitions forever has been rejected by an appeals court, and refused review by the Supreme Court.

Along with three towns, the state still could have the trust land decision reversed and is following up on the claims in federal court.

Get the Story:
Suit claims BIA official violated state land act (The Norwich Bulletin 11/29)
Blumenthal files formal complaint in land dispute (The New London Day 11/29)

Related Stories:
Gov. wants to stay out of Pequot dispute (11/28)
Political motives cited in Pequot case (11/27)
Pequot Tribe to discuss land dispute (11/26)