Navajo Nation lawmakers voted Friday to place their legislative leader on indefinite paid administrative leave rather than oust him, months after he was charged with bribery and conspiracy, AP reports.
Prosecutors allege Johnny Naize and other tribal officials engaged in a scheme to divert tribal funds to their families. Naize has denied wrongdoing.
Lawmakers met in a special session in Window Rock to consider legislation sponsored by Alton Joe Shepherd to remove Naize from the post he’s held since 2011. The amendments to Shepherd’s measure came as a compromise, some lawmakers said, because Naize’s criminal case hasn’t wrapped up in tribal court.
Update: Naize fires back, files lawsuit against council delegates who ousted him a day earlier
