Copyright © 1998 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Cherokee Press Association
Copyright © 1998 CPA
All Rights Reserved

In response to Joe Byrd's remarks in the Sunday Tulsa World article by Rob Martindale:

Byrd said some members of the Oklahoma delegation have maintained "a constant threat" of having the federal funding removed.

Byrd fails to explain why the honorable Oklahoma congressional representatives have kept such vigilant watch.

The Oklahoma delegation has responded to hundreds of request from tribal members for assistance in trying to find out were the tribe's books stand. Byrd and staff have failed to justify their budgets in the 1996, 1997 and now 1998 fiscal years. Those are tribal and federal funds. Tribal members as well as all taxpayers have the right, and obligation to demand fiscal accountability from elected representatives. This is serious business when books are in such bad shape that they can't even be audited! Byrd has had more than 2 years to get those books together and account for where he has spent the tribes money and yet continues to blame the problem on a failed computer system that he was warned about in 1995. It isn't a "computer" problem, it is a leadership problem. That failed leadership has now made it the Cherokee tribal members and taxpayers problem.

Byrd said -"Let's reverse that a little bit," "What about all the turmoil that has taken place in Washington, D.C. Now, I don't see a whole lot of unity there. Now, we are not going to close down the federal government because they have had some disagreements."

Right, the federal government is not going to close down because of "differing political opinions and squabbles by political opponents". However, need we point out that there is a big difference between that and "breaking the law", then using "politics" to attempt cover up the truth! The federal government's elected representatives follow the law or face criminal investigation and possibly criminal charges, convictions and prison!

Federal representatives just like tribal representatives are bound by laws and their sworn oaths of office to uphold the laws of our nation and our constitution. If they don't, they are held accountable!

Even the Democratic National Committee admitted that the tribal and federal funds that Byrd illegally gave them was wrong and have returned some of the money. This is one of the charges and issues involved in the criminal investigation of Byrd's administration.

It appears that Byrd's transparent attempt to capitalize on non-Indian partisan politics by focusing on the Oklahoma congressional representatives serves not only Byrd's interest, but the interest of those DNC members here in the state. Some of whom have propped Byrd up in his flight from tribal justice. Some of those Byrd cohorts actually participated in the "illegal" kangaroo court that attempted to "impeach" the entire Cherokee Nation's Judicial Appeals Tribunal (supreme court) and made $hundreds of thousands in tribal monies in the process.

Byrd and cohorts have dismantled the judicial branch of the Cherokee Nation and effectively stalled further criminal investigation and Byrd's arraignment in any legitimate court. Byrd publicly stated that he would only obey our supreme court's orders that he thought were legal and that he could interpret the constitution. Those actions and statements came immediately after a criminal investigation of Byrd's administration for alleged misuse and misappropriation of federal and tribal funds began and a search warrant was served for specific documents re: same.

Byrd has spent approximately. $1.3Million dollars on outside attorneys, several who are high-profile DNC members. Why?

The (3) separate, but equally powerful branches of the federal government assures U.S. citizens that government continues to operate. But I can guarantee you that if the President of the U.S. and cohorts did what Byrd and cohorts did; break the laws; dismantle the constitutional government; defy supreme court orders, orchestrate a false, completely manufactured excuse to bring foreign troops into the U.S. to aide and abet his flight from justice by taking over the supreme court building and holding the judicial and law enforcement budgets hostage that you might just see not only the U.S. government cease some services to the people, but you might have a civil war!

The citizens of this tribe and the citizens of this country have had enough of the half truths, "spin" control, and covertly designed "smoke screens" coming from some elected officials. It is bad enough when victims of crime in this country are further punished because of lenient law officials who apparently coddle common criminals, but when an elected officials breaks laws and citizens are victimized further by a federal agency who not only condones the crime, but aids and abets in the official's flight from justice it is time to seriously question the motives and/or competence of that federal agency and it's officials.

Cherokee people are very thankful that our Oklahoma congressional representatives have "listened" to our concerns and have acted on our behalf. They are the first U.S. officials in over a year of this so-called Cherokee crisis who have not only listened, but have acted on our requests. Others have not!

We want the truth, and we want ethical leaders who put citizens, their states, countries and in this case their tribe tribe first! If you can't lead the people out of the problems, then at least have enough courage and respect for the people to step down and let others solve the problem! If you are accused of a crime you didn't commit then go to court and prove you are innocent. Innocent people have nothing to hide. Let the evidence speak for itself, and let Joe Byrd speak for himself!

Cherokee Tribal Member
Tahlequah