Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye is disputing a New York Times article that claims the Nation made an offer to buy Remington Arms Company for approximately $525 million cash. Begaye said his office was unaware of the proposal.
Begaye claims he became aware of the issue only after reading the article.
“As President, I question the secrecy by which this offer was made,” President Begaye said. “Offers that include high dollar amounts and do not include the involvement of the Executive Branch are highly questionable. It’s my responsibility to protect the Navajo people’s money.”
The Budget and Finance Committee discussed the Remington proposal during an Executive Session and Special Meeting held on May 29, 2018. Begaye claims that neither the Office of the Controller nor the Legislative Branch communicated the $525 million offer with him or his staff.
“My economic team was unaware that this offer was being made to Remington by the Controller’s Office and certain members of Council,” President Begaye said.
Speaker LoRenzo Bates disputes Begaye’s claim. “This proposal regarding Remington was brought forth by the Office of the Controller – under the Executive Branch – and presented to the Síhasin Fund Subcommittee, the Budget and Finance Committee, and officials within President Russell Begaye’s Administration. The Controller recommended to initiate discussions with Remington and to begin the due diligence on Navajo involvement. The President is wrong in his accusations against Council members. In fact, President Begaye’s Administration was directly involved in discussions – whether or not his staff communicated with him is not the problem of the Council, but it is a problem within his own office.”
Navajo Nation Attorney General Ethel Branch claims she was also unaware of the offer. As such, she believes the proposal was done without proper legal authorization or approval.
Attorney General Branch stated, “It is very disturbing to me that the Nation’s laws for engaging outside counsel appear to have been disregarded. Those laws are in place to protect the legal and financial interests of the Nation. Our public officials should do their part to protect those interests by fulfilling their legal and ethical duties in following those laws.”
Council Delegate Seth Damon, Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, supported Speaker Bates. “To be clear, there was no discussion or consideration of using funds from the Permanent Trust Fund, as reported. The committee discussed this proposal with the Controller as an economic initiative with the potential of bringing potentially thousands of needed jobs to the Navajo Nation. We have so many people who need and want jobs and that’s what this discussion centered on.”
Council Delegate Leonard Tsosie, Chair of the Síhasin Fund Subcommittee, accused the Begaye Administration of having no economic development plan to bring large scale employment to the Navajo Nation, so the Council and Committees are taking the initiative to discuss possible ventures to help our unemployed Navajo people. The Subcommittee has not had any formal investments on a so-called ‘deal.’ Delegates talk about many different subjects, including Remington. When these matters become legislation, the Navajo public will know.”