Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board Suspends Chairman Without Pay

Seal of the Fort Peck Tribes.

The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board Thursday announced the suspension of Tribal Chairman Floyd Azure.

The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board published the suspension announcement with a Statement of Charges against Chairman Azure, including the charge that Azure has refused to attend Board meetings since Aug. 24.

Another of the nine charges is an accusation that the Chairman inappropriately tried to maintain and pay for services from a close associate’s construction company, even as the Tribal Executive Board entered into litigation against the same company, BP Construction, for failing to provide services in exchange for payments exceeding a quarter of a million dollars.

Eight Tribal Executive Board members signed the order to suspend Chairman Azure without pay, with three members absent.

Azure will be suspended until Dec. 3, when a hearing is scheduled to determine if he will be permanently removed from office.

Vice-Chairman Charlie Headdress will serve as interim chairman until a decision is reached.

In May 2004, Fort Peck Tribal Chairman John Morales was removed by the Tribal Executive Board after council members said Morales refused to carry out council resolutions.

Kaitlyn Nicholas is Yellowstone Public Radio's Report for America tribal affairs reporter.

Kaitlyn Nicholas covers tribal news in Montana.