ONSAT, BCDS BLUES:
Counting coup — Council asked to put president, VP on leave
The Navajo Nation Council voted 71-8 for legislation to pass on the Desert Rock Coal Plant at the council chambers on Friday, Feb. 27, 2009 in Window Rock, Ariz. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Independent file photo

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — After hearing three reports lasting more than five hours in executive session, the Navajo Nation Council approved a directive for legislation to be drafted to place those involved in OnSat and BCDS on investigatory leave. That legislation is supposed to be presented to the Council on Tuesday.

Rumors were swirling that the Council was looking to put President Joe Shirley and Vice President Ben Shelly on administrative leave — which was alluded to in news releases sent out by both the Council speaker's office and the president's office.

Right before the Council recessed for the day, delegate Kee Allen Begay said that he had received three text messages asking for delegates not to put the president on leave. He emphasized that the Council's actions were not related to recent government reform initiatives.

Council spokesman Joshua Lavar Butler said that rumors that the Council is suspending the president and vice president because of the initiative to reduce the number of Council delegates are just rumors and that the receipt of the reports has nothing to do with Shirley's government reform initiatives.

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