CHEROKEE, N.C. (AP) – A tribal council in North Carolina has voted to remove its chief for only the second time since the early 1800s.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council found Principal Chief Patrick Lambert guilty on eight of 12 articles of impeachment on Thursday, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported.
Lambert was accused of signing a contract with Harrah’s Cherokee Casino to have the casino rent rooms from a hotel he owned. He also was accused of signing contracts without approval of the tribal council as well as improper hiring practices, including hiring an attorney for his personal benefit.
More than a dozen supporters of Lambert marched outside the tribal chambers after the vote to remove him.
He was elected principal chief of the 14,000-member tribe in 2015 with more than 70 percent of the vote. He had called the impeachment effort a “witch hunt.”
“What we just saw today was nine people,” he said. “How many people in this crowd support me? I think those nine overruled 71 percent of this tribe.”
But Lambert, an attorney who served as executive director of the Tribal Gaming Commission for 22 years, said he would respect the decision.
“I’m not angry about the impeachment,” he said. “We need to stop fighting.”
Special prosecutor Robert Saunooke said Lambert cherry-picked the tribal laws he followed.
“There are no exceptions to laws,” Saunooke said.
Lambert and his attorney, Scott Jones, said the allegations were not impeachable offenses.
“There is no evidence that he committed impeachable offenses,” Jones said in his closing argument. “He’s done the best of his ability to provide services and protect the charter.Vice Chief Richard Sneed has taken over as principal chief.
The Eastern Band of the Cherokee has been led by 27 chiefs since the early 1800s, and the council voted to oust just one principal chief.
A unanimous tribal council removed Jonathan “Ed” Taylor in 1995, on allegations he solicited bribes and had tribal employees work on his homes and cars while being paid by the tribe.
51 comments:
Sounds familiar. And sets a precident.....get him Pala people.
Oh please the people of Pala will never stand up to smith they are afraid to loose their per cap because the ones that did stand up to him lost percap,right to vote go to meetings or membership. Everyone is just waiting for someone else to do something like other members,the FBI,IRS,DOJ or the Grim Reaper.
The impeached chief says popular support was overruled by a tribal council. His lawyer says there is no evidence he committed impeachable offenses. Doubletalk for guilty as charged.
In PBMI the EC would have to gang up on Smith to impeach him. What's the chances of that happening? They are all corrupt. Each of them has participated in impeachable offenses.
Robert had a good teacher in Howard Dickstien making sure every cohort or EC member can be implicated in one thing or another so they can't turn in you in the future as they are guilty as well. During both disenrollment decisions he had an EC member bring it up for a vote. Just so the 2 EC members that did bring it up and vote yes on an illegal disenrollment with no evidence or proof to deliberately hurt tribal members by lowering their blood degree you have committed offenses against tribal members and when all this is dealt with and comes to light you will punished according by the tribe for goI got against the people for greed and following orders of a man who has done so much harm to Pala. Remember we don't have a statuette of limitations at Pala. When Robert is out by death or arrest the rest of you that went along with him willhave to answer for your actions. Kilma you may not have voted on the second round of disenrollments as you have stated but you did vote on the first group with little to no evidence that wasn't applied to any body else except that group and taking Roberts word. We applauded you for leaving the EC when you knew it's corruption was growing and for speaking out against it and to anyone who has answered the FBI's questions truthfully when asked.
I bet Kilma could get an immunity deal for turning on Robert. That would show he was against the bad decisions and keep him out of jail. Still waiting for him to walk the walk.
Yes sir Kilma you could turn this whole thing around and stop them in there tracks if only you had the brass balls to do so.
You would be the hero to so many Tribal Members and non Members living in the area as well as the disenrolled members who
do belong on the rolls of the Pala Band.
Your silence is killing your people.
Be a real Native American and tell you story to the Feds and make Robert Smith pay. Do it for your family and your friends, and mainly Kilma do it in the memory of your Father Roy Lattin jr.
He deserves justice also , I think that you know what I mean.
Show the Tribe that you are sincere and a dedicated Member of PBMI.
The FBI has already questioned several people in Pala. Members,non members and employees. We may know some but not all. They only ones that do know are the Feds and they are the only ones that need to know. Cannot wait for the day!
Speaking of writing on a bathroom wall, last week I used a stall in the men's room at the casino and on the wall inside the first stall
were these words scratched on the wall, " Robert Smith is a rapist".
Go figure.
Hey kilns, the general council (the tribe) did vote on this back in the 80s. MB is 4/4. Robert overturned what the tribe had already voted on. ILLEGAL
Good job Kilma..I agree with everything he says. At least someone is speaking up. A true and fair person who looks at both sides and knows what's wrong with Pala and its government. We need term limits (which we did actually vote and pass years ago) also the EC cannot be all things.
Everyone knows the 1928 rolls are not suppose to be used for enrollment purposes because of it's in inaccuracy. So why is it the brittians are the only family in pala who's enrollment is based on the 1928 roll? No other family has to go by the 1928 roll. It seems to me that the EC used extreme prejudice against the brittians
The EC changed the Enrollment Ordinance to make it appear the disenrollments were legal. Kilma was on the EC when it was approved so he knows this. The feds can't bust Robert for membership disputes. But what about all the so-called failed investmests? That money is never accounted for. What about federal funds that aren't reported? Are they really used for their earmarks? What happens to interest on accounts? What about assets purchased with tribal funds? Have any been converted to EC members?
The feds can prosecute for misappropriation of funds, conversion of assets, fraud and embezzlement. It is hard for me to believe that decisions on the economic development fund were made, investmests failed, money lost, all in a vacuum.
Just saying.
Travel expenses on the tribes budget? With your friends?? The tribe should not be footing the bill for your friends and family? Also stop talking about the FBI let them do their thing. I know the EC already knows they are being investigated and have probably destroyed tons of evidence but so did John Gotti and all the other white collar criminals they busted. Anyone who sits in the EC at this point is a FOOL knowing the EC is being investigated by the Feds. When they are arrested the tribe (the people) will step in and fully cooperate with the Feds and separately punish those involved at a tribal level. Banishment from the Rez and loss of "ALL" tribal benefits. You will be on your own when you are arrested and charged. If you were smart you would step down from the EC.
I think that it may be to late for the Members of the EC to step down to save their asses.
The indictments are ready and will soon be granted and served upon the ones who's names are on them.
They all had a lot of time to stop the corruption at the Tribal level but refused to do so now it's just a matter of time until the click of handcuffs is heard in the hallways of the Admin building.
Good luck and may you all rot in hell for what you have done to your own people for money.
That also goes for you too Shasta G-string you lying bitch.
The EC can use the budget anyway they want to. That is an internal tribal matter, and the tribe gave the EC full authority over financial matters. At least that is what the EC says. Something about the gaming ordinance, and the general council hasn't disputed it. The FBI can't prosecute the EC for actions that are authorized. The FOIA can only indict the EC for violations of federal law. Then it is up to the Attorney General to proceed with prosecution.
@ 1:09 PM
Check out the latest Supreme Court Ruling on Tribal Sovereignty.
Lewis v. Clark.
It says that the courts have that issue all wrong and should dig deeper into hiding behind Sovereignty.
It seems that the EC members can be sued for certain things that Sovereignty cannot be applied for them to dodge a lawsuit on certain issues.
YO CHECK IT OUT>.. & Fuc*k u kilma -- wut did u do to make taquitz come and clean ur house u little snitch ass—u need 2 go azway in handcuffs to.
FAT ROB is the rotten hub & his goons R the rotten spokes & that make PALA nothin but a flat tire….goin nowhere’s. better 2 b in RINCON, RR. better to b in PECHANGA to. shit its crazy but it better to be in SOBOBA!
PALA aint movin like a FLAT tire dont move FAT ROB has his little baby gangstas alwayz actin smart around town like they know whats good for pala but u know those tribal goons R his favorite bcasue he put them in high positions & they all just keep gettin paid for keepin the dysfunction & pumping the information….. the people R not to dumb to see it they just scared i guess we all C the Employees just taking pictures and snitchin around for the salary and PERKS --- its like,,, they are all followers,, no leaders…. Just blind rats following sounds of broken flute players--- luco/ Donnie / tim R--/jimbo/tony R/samScotts/ & u know the other 1’s. all Star GOON squad--- & the young 1’s see that & want to grow up like that?? shit that bike is gonna crash and burn
E-Z 2 work 4 FAT ROB as tribal employeee just gettin paid with tribal funds and keepin rob in power to protect themselves and they just keep conn-ing the members & keep tellin the family 2 vote for rob and the rest of them – just 2 protect the system I guess ----shit we know the tribe would b better off if they all went away but the GOON crew protects rob and he protects his goons....
he aint gonna fire his little crew of over paid informants with big job titles. And the young 1’s R growin up like that’s how they should act? fuc*k that. tire needs 2 B changed out
PALA aint gonna change CUZ ---they dont wanna change CUZ ----
need 2 cut off the head of that snake & chop all the little heads off 2 PALA used to be somethinn but now its B--low average CUZ its core is rotten from the inside of ADMIN setting bad examples for all rotten spokes/rotten hub/ FLAT.TIRE
Hey wait a sec. This is something I never thought about. Does Pala get federal funds for Historic Preservation? Lets say the feds give Pala money for Cupa Cultural Center and to pay Shasta Gaughen. Isn't there also a budget item for that? The feds give funding for Housing, Road Maintenance, Education, and other programs to tribes. So is Pala taking federal funds and also using budgeted funds for the same things? Isn't that like fraud or something?
There is so much fraud and imbezzling going on in pala, it's almost impossible to keep track of it all. That's probably why it's taken so long for the FBI to do there investigation. If the tribal members only new how much money robert is steeling from them
If you google corruption a picture of pala probably comes up
At 1:09, the tribe did not give the EC permission to steal there money!!
If anyone finds any proof of Grant monies given to Pala for road maintenance let someone know either here or find a way. It's important.
Pala Band's share of federal funding for the Tribal Transportation Program in 2016 was $16,666.72. Distribution of federal funding is public record. This program began funding in 2016 and the share increases 10% in 2017.
There are other programs for transportation, but this programs provides contract funding for road repairs, maintenance and improvements.
Thank you 8:26 PM for the info.
If you think of any thing else please let me know. Thanks again this will help.
I'm not sure what you mean. If you are tracking federal funding for the Pala Band, this is public information and the BIA website has lists by federal program. I believe that the Pala EC receives federal funds and also tribal funds for the same purposes. The federal funding is never reported to the general council. The Tribal funding is fraudulently reported. Members have false information, but it doesn't matter because the EC controls the money and says the gaming ordinance gives them authority to use funds without obtaining general council approval.
As far as the law is concerned, it is fraud to use federal funds for any other purpose beside that prescribed in the program. It is also fraud to file false reports regarding the uses of federal funds.
It would be difficult to prove fraud without an audit, documentary evidence, or reliable testimony. The EC obviously has been advised to eliminate any evidence of fraud.
They can try to hide their fraud but there is always a way to find out because there is an electronic fingerprint so to speak, of all transactions that are done through transfers at all banks in the U.S..
You cannot make a transaction without using your bankcard or your State approved ID, like a drivers lic. or DMV ID card or a bank issued ID card tied to the account.
So we shall wait and see what the Investigations come back with.
An electronic finger print can never be avoided.
Kilma?? Why did you remove your comments?? For a minute there I was actually proud that there was a tribal member willing to openly speak out against the way things are done and to be fair. Your comments on the disenrollments were eye opening by verifying what most already knew that the Chairmans office set things in motion to gaurentee the disenrollments. Using 1928 rolls for only 1 family when we know they are not to be used in matters of enrollment. Only having some info from only the Riverside office and that your office got everything second hand from the chairmans office. Did someone say something to you about your post?? Don't be afraid to speak up this is what we need in Pala. New leaders who are not afraid to speak out against what's currently going on. We need new leaders to speak up and step up for the people to follow give them hope and they will rise up and back you for Chairman. But you cannot be afraid we have enough of that here in Pala.
Kind of funny that Kilma removes his comments, where he told people to not post anonymously, and that we should not pay attention to what an "Anonymous" poster says. Maybe he should post anonymous, that wya he wont get crap for posting.
This is a perfect example of why people post comments anonymously. To avoid bullying from the EC. I thought it was brave of you kilma to make the comments that you did. Hopefully one day we will be able to voice our opinions without retaliation from the EC.
I think that Kilma is being truthful in his posts and just wants the people to see the truth about what happened.
I also think that he removed his post before any of the EC could use it against him and even disenroll him.
It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to dealing with the EC as we have all witnessed before.
Don't give up or give in to the EC no matter what.
If you are threatened by any of them do not be afraid to call the FBI
and file a complaint so it will be on record.
Protect your self and your family members and don't let the EC bully them anymore.
Has the FBI protected any Pala members from retaliation by the Pala EC? All I see is people shot in the head, tortured, heads cut off, and the perpetrators running free. That and an investigation that has gone on since 2010 without any charges or arrests.
Protect yourself with big guns. Don't talk, shoot. F kilma and his fence sitting. He is no leader. He covers his ass just like everyone else. FBI is a joke. Undercover assholes don't do shit. Want results? Want changes? Take out the gangsta underlings that prop up the pig. When his weenie little piss-ants are stone cold he will shit his pants and have no one to change his Depends.
I think that the person that wanted to take over the Admin building a long time ago had it right.
This shit has gone one long enough and nothing has been done except for a lot of promises from both sides.
All this is doing is giving the EC more time to destroy all the evidence that could convict them as charged.
Many of the Members blame the FBI for not arresting Robert and his fuckers but it all comes back to the Members not standing up to Robert and Nieto for what they have created on the Pala Reservation.
The only thing that will bring change to Pala is the Members themselves.
Who has the balls to start the ball rolling and take these rotten bastards out of office for good?
We have tried to do it the right way and got shut down. We have tried to do it through the FBI and nothing.
We tried through the BIA and nothing.
So what do we do now, nothing?
If nothing is done soon Robert and Nieto will have taken every thing that the Tribe has and convert all over to themselves.
All because the Members are too dumb or are afraid to stand up to them.
There is way to much talk and not enough action taken to make Pala and safe place to live and raise a family again.
Think about you young kids and grandkids, what kind of life are you leading them into because you are afraid of losing you monthly check.
So money and greed has not only corrupted the EC it has also corrupted you as members of the Bank for keeping your mouths shut
and letting Robert Smith and the EC continue to put you down and keep you under his thumb like he does on a daily basis.
This has to be the main reason for letting them get away with so much shit because even my ten year old granddaughter could kick his little piggy ass.
When you see him at the Casino drinking and "Pissing" your money away
take a picture and frame it so you can remember who took the food out of your children and grandchildren's mouths, and remember who disenrolled your family members and friends.
This what is happening in Pala believe it or not.
I was at the meeting when they wanted to suspend the EC pending a audit. I 100% agree with with what they tried to do. If they had been successful all the casinos finances would be open for all tribal members to see and make decisions on. It could have also saved the lives of the recently murdered. As well as brought pala together as a whole. I will stand behind any action to get the EC out. You have my vote
Doesn't anyone think that it is strange that our per capita has not gone up in the last few years.
The Casino is doing a lot better than the are told.It is most always packed with people gambling and yet when Nieto gives the financial reports at the meetings there is always a neg. balance at the end.
Make them prove it that the Casino is not making millions of dollars more than the members are told and stop being satisfied with what they give you.
We should be getting at least 15 to 20 thousand dollars a month after taxes.
They have stopped funding a lot of senior things through the Tribe and yet the senior budget hasn't changed so where is that money going
to. Where is all the bonus money gone to. Where is all the minor trust fund money gone to?
And yet the people don't ask because they are afraid to called out by Smith and Nieto and get their money taken away by the EC.
What has happened the rights of the General Membership?
We are barley allowed to take shit without the approval of the EC.
What kind of life do we have?
They EC has control of every move by every Tribal member, WHY?
They have used the new tax law that lets us get paid through 2 different accounts so we pay less taxes as a raise in our monthly income. so now everyone thinks that the EC is the holy council that looks out for it's people.
Why are the budget items so damn high, and why aren't the Members told about the Federal Grants that the Band receives for items that are on the Tribes Budget, where is that extra money going to?
Why aren't the Members told about the money that the Tribe receives for road maintance and other programs that money is received for by the Tribe and is also included in the yearly budget requested by the EC, where is that extra money going to?
We all know that the Federal funds that the Tribe gets for road improvements is never spent on the roads. Look how bad the roads are in Pala full of pot holes and a minimum amount of pavement.
There is no excuse for the people living across the river to be stuck there and can't cross over to the village in the rainy season because of a washed out road that should have a bridge should this can't happen.
What happens is someone is in need of the fire dept. or needs medical help? Just like when that man that had the heart attack and died on Pala Temecula rd just before Trujillo.
The response time was extended by 5 to 10 minutes because the crossing from hwy 76 to Pala mission rd was blocked off so the rescue had to go around and come up Pala Mission rd from hwy 76 at the Casino. Could that mans life been saved by a quicker response time of 5 to 10 mimutes?.
These are the types of things that people need to think about before it happens to you or someone you care about and fuck Robert Smith and his corrupt EC.
The Members lives are way more important that theirs for sure.
And look at the other Casinos and how they are makingoing big improvements. Pechanga is expanding, Pauma is expanding, Harrahs revenue is way up, La Jolla is breaking ground on a new resort. What is Pala doing? Losing ground to the competition because the EC is incompetent thieves.
Trusting the future to the Pala EC is like trusting lambs to wolves. They are going to chew up the money and leave the members a bunah of debt.
Don't be afraid to speak up and stand up. The EC is ruining Pala and lying and stealing from us. Think about everything we used to get and has been taken away over the years yet the budget is the same? That's. It possible!! Also Robert cannot I repeat cannot take away your percap or suspend it. According to IGRA every member is entitled to an equal share of percapita payments. That's why Willie Pink got his percap back when Robert took it away right before this last Xmas. He reported it to the Indian gaming authority and Robert knew he couldn't keep getting away with it so Willie got it back. You see Robert doesn't always win although he will throw a tantrum and try to get back at you if he doesn't get his way. Pala is not prospering like it should be. We need new leadership desperately. We all know Robert had his young idiot followers that prosper under smiths regime by being adopted into the tribe or given a job where they do very little for a paycheck that we pay for. These people are leaching off the tribe and smith allows it to keep himself in power. I cannot believe we continue to let this happen. I for one am ready for REVOLUTION and am all for taking back the Admin and cleaning house.
I totally agree with 1:15 AM.
If something is not done real soon about Robert Smith and Theresa Nieto the Tribe will be flat broke and have nothing to fall back on except a boarded up building with a huge debt to pay for.
Word around the village is that Smith and Nieto have taken out loans against the Casino without the approval of the Tribal Members which all have a share in the business of the Casino.
Either get him and Nieto out or be a broke Indian looking for a handout to survive.
Making a change will require leadership, organization, and secrecy. too bad all the leader got disenrolled or stripped of their rights. You guys are hilarious saying a change has to be made. There isn't anyone with the courage, intelligence, or leadership ability to make it happen. Kilma is a joke. He keeps trying to play both sides. David Duro can't get elected. So who else do you have who can do the job? Don't say anything on this blog. Go organize in secret and make it happen. Make sure you know who the spies are, and know they are everywhere in Pala. Do it off rez, with a realistic plan for success.
I say this and laugh. Pala members have not shown any inclination to stand up and work together. They are much better at spreading rumors, targeting people to hurt, and supporting the corrupt EC. Good luck on trying to make changes. The question is who is more lame? The Pala EC or the Pala members?
Where has R&R been? And why so quiet?
To 3:46PM.
All great points but R&R is busy with the pursuit of getting his tribe recognized and listed by the BIA.
Let's see how happy you are when they get half of Pala......
Just keep in mind that Pala abandoned the disenrollees. No wonder if the disenrollees decide to go their own way.
There is talk around the Res that the EC is getting very nervous about this group that is trying to get Federal status for their new
Tribe. Smith is concerned and is getting very stressed out as is Nieto.
I don't know why they are stressing but they are.
Whatever happens, happens and they, the EC brought all this hate to
the Reservation because of hate and greed and now they worried that they can be exposed for the corruption and stealing funds from a Tribal Gamming Casino on Federal lands which is against the law.
You can check the Law pertaining to this just google it up and check what it says.
Good by Mr. Smith and Mrs. Nieto and never mind you are not worth wasting words on.
It looks like the Dakota pipeline is in trouble again.
Read the story on the yahoo news.
Seems a Federal Judge is requesting info on the permits and the permits may be illegal for some reason.
Blame it on Take A Dump Trump.
The Pipeline has been in plan and play since 2010, Trump was not President then.
Take A Dump does not like Indians.
I think he feels like the Indian Casinos are taking food from his table.
Well. .....another arrest/raid at the Cagey home. How many times has this house been raided? There is so much bad karma and juju there. Instead of moving someone back in the best thing is to condemn and demolish the home (should've been anyway because of the meth history) & close the whole assignment.
Who got arrested in the raid?
Or is this another Pala rumor.
Don't know who got arrested, they had a couple people handcuffed. The Sheriffs were demanding a Joe Sanchez come out with his hands up, he was under arrest. Too many people saw all the Sheriffs and DEA, & people handcuffed so no it's not a rumor.
It's time to blow the shit out of that house.
It will never be a family home for anyone to live in.
Tare it down.
Shit Smith and the EC cleared the Boles home before the Investigation
was even complete so what the FUCK is the EC waiting for on this site.
And as for Joe Sanchez isn't he personal friends of Robert and Andrew Smith.
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