Wampumgate

Wampumgate is the name for the controversy around the rejection of an Indian gambling project by three impoverished Chippewa Indian tribes who hoped to establish a casino in Hudson, Wisconsin. DNC Contributions and actions by Bill Clinton's Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt showed evidence that Babbitt responded to lobbying by the rival Ho-Chunk, Mdewankaton Sioux and six other tribes, mostly from neighboring Minnesota, who felt the Hudson casino would interfere with their own highly lucrative gambling operations. [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30910FE3E5D0C738DDDA00894DF494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fC%2fClinton%2c%20Bill] NY Times "Sinking of Casino Plan Makes Tribes Cry Foul" September 10, 1997, Late Edition - Final, Section A, Page 18.] In 1995, Babbitt overruled recommendations by regional Interior officials and his own staff to approve the gambling license. When Babbitt gave conflicting explanations of the incident to Congressional leaders, Atty Gen Janet Reno, who had resisted an independent probe of campaign finance, asked a judicial panel to appoint an outside prosecutor to probe Bruce Babbitt's role in the rejection as well as the influence of campaign contributions. [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50A10FF39580C718DDDAB0894D0494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fC%2fClinton%2c%20Bill] NY Times, "RENO REQUESTING A COUNSEL TO LOOK AT BABBITT MOVES" February 12, 1998, By DAVID JOHNSTON, Late Edition - Final, Section A, Page 1] . The Chippewas engaged Phoenix attorney and longtime Babbitt supporter and confidant Paul Eckstein in the matter. Eckstein later became incensed when Babbitt hinted to him that the decision to turn down the tribes was influenced by campaign contributions from the opponents. Janet Reno denied the independent counsel right to probe broader campaign fund-raising issues in the Clinton administration. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/campfin/stories/cf032998.htm] Washington Post "Babbitt Probe to Focus on Memory of Discussion" , March 29, 1998; Page A08] Bill Clinton supported Bruce Babbitt in his overruling regional Interior officials, January 11, 1998. Congress looking to the matter found that the office of Harold Ickes, then Pres Clinton's Deputy Chief of Staff, did in fact contact Interior Sec Bruce Babbitt's aides about indian gambling project of the Chippewa.

The wealthy tribes had strong support from influential people, including Donald Fowler, chairman of the Democratic National Committee. They were also supported by Sen. Paul Wellstone and U.S. Reps Jim Oberstar, David Obey and Tom Barrett. Four of the tribes gave $56,000 to Democrats in 1995 and $225,000 in 1996. Those tribes also had donated heavily to Wellstone and Oberstar. [ [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30811FF34550C728FDDA90994DF494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fC%2fClinton%2c%20Bill] NT Times, "Mr. Babbitt's Troubling Testimony"October 31, 1997, Late Edition - Final, Section A, Page 26]

The Independent Counsel eventually did not find prosecutable evidence of wrongdoing, though did note major irregularities in the decision process. In 2000 the Interior Department chose not to continue fighting a lawsuit by the tribes in the Hudson partnership and reversed its earlier denial of the casino application. However, the measure eventually failed to win needed approval by then-Wisconsin governor Scott McCallum. [ [http://icreport.access.gpo.gov/babbitt.html] Report of the Independent Counsel, "In Re: Bruce Edward Babbitt" Carol Elder Bruce, Independent Counsel, August 22, 2000]

References

External links

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0E1EFE3F5D0C728DDDA80894D0494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fC%2fClinton%2c%20Bill] NY Times "WEB OF INFLUENCE -- A special report.; Casino Inquiry Pushes Babbitt From the Pinnacle to the Brink" January 11, 1998, Late Edition - Final, Section 1, Page 1
* [http://www.pbs.org/newshour/campaign/october97/hearing_10-30.html] PBS "SECRETARY BABBITT IN THE HOT SEAT", October 30, 1997