Indian Affairs Aide Is Fired, but He Blames White House
The No. 2 official at the Bureau of Indian Affairs was fired Friday, a move he contended was retaliation for refusing to follow White House orders on a decision involving California Indians.
Interior Department spokesman Mark Pfeifle denied the assertion by Wayne Smith, saying the termination was “because of actions [Smith] took as an employee at the Department of Interior.”
Pfeifle, whose agency oversees the BIA, declined to describe the actions.
Smith’s former business partner, Philip Bersinger, is being investigated by the FBI and Interior Department inspector general for trying to use his relationship with Smith to land lobbying contracts with tribes.
But Smith’s lawyer, Nancy Luque, said her client was forced out because he refused to give the Buena Vista Me-Wuk Indians federal tribal status for a casino.
Luque said she has asked the U.S. attorney’s office to investigate “what I believe is an improper use of influence by the White House and those connected to Republican politics and reprisals against Mr. Smith for reporting that influence.”
She declined to say why the White House wanted the decision changed.
Luque said that Smith has sought protection under federal “whistle-blower” statutes that shield workers from retaliation.
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