Oglala Sioux Tribal Council suspends president

PINE RIDGE, S.D. (AP) – The Oglala Sioux Tribal Council has suspended President Bryan Brewer following allegations that he acted without the council’s approval on two occasions and mishandled a $5,000 check.

The council voted 10-5 on Tuesday to suspend Brewer until July 17, when a hearing is scheduled to determine whether he should be reinstated or impeached, Councilman Garfield Steele told the Rapid City Journal. Brewer will be given an opportunity to defend himself at the hearing.

“I support the president,” Steele said. “I support a lot of things that he’s done. He’s done good things and the reason why I voted to accept this was to allow him to give his side of the story.”

Brewer did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment on Wednesday.

Steele said the complaints against Brewer allege that he signed over the tribe’s power of attorney in order to approve bonds without the council’s consent, that he approved health benefits for the tribe’s former casino manager without the council’s consent, and that he mishandled a $5,000 donation a business made to the tribe. Steele did not say what Brewer is alleged to have done with the money.

A tribal judge will oversee the July 17 hearing, with the eventual decision on Brewer’s future left to the council. It would take a two-thirds vote of the 19-member council to remove Brewer from office.

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Information from: Rapid City Journal, http://www.rapidcityjournal.com