Oklahoma Attorney General looks to bring an end to three-year Tribal gaming lawsuit

AG Drummond hopes to bring an ‘expeditious end’ to the rift between Tribal communities and Governor Kevin Stitt.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond wants to put an end to a legal battle over new Tribal gaming compacts.

The battle began three years ago when Governor Kevin Stitt negotiated with four Tribal communities in a manner which some have deemed to be unlawful.

There has been friction between Stitt and Tribes in Oklahoma since his inauguration in 2009. Kevin Stitt clashed with Tribal operators furthermore last year when he was reelected after receiving 55.5% of votes. The result of the vote was considered to be unfavorable for the Tribal gaming industry in the state.

Drummond is attempting to gain permission to take over the state’s handling of the case. Drummond said, “The State of Oklahoma has been embroiled in legal controversy for over three years following Governor J. Kevin Stitt’s unilateral action of negotiating illegal Tribal compacts with four Tribal communities in Oklahoma.

“As determined by our Supreme Court, Governor Stitt’s actions are in violation of Oklahoma law, and his attempts to seek federal bureaucratic authorization of those compacts resulted in a federal lawsuit, which Governor Stitt is currently defending in his official capacity (using the services of several Washington, D.C. and New York City law firms).”

Drummond has vowed to mend the state’s relationship with Oklahoma’s Tribes, hoping to do so quickly to bring an end to the rift. Drummond wrote to GOP legislative leaders in June, stating how he wishes to bring the lawsuit to an “expeditious end” and “end the continued waste of State resources on this matter.”

Robert Prendergast

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