Bill to remove Speaker Naize heads to council

Window Rock The Naa'bik'yti' Committee tabled legislation calling for the removal of Navajo Nation Council Speaker Johnny Naize.

The bill was proposed after Naize was charged with 10 counts of bribery and one count of conspiracy by the tribe's special prosecutor on Dec. 3.

Delegate Dwight Witherspoon motioned to table the measure, which was seconded by Delegate Jonathan Hale, and the committee voted 10 in favor and seven opposed during Thursday's committee meeting in the council chamber in Window Rock.

Naize recused himself as the chairperson and then left.

Acting chief legislative counsel Mariana Kahn read the provision in tribal law which provides that when the chairperson is absent then members shall nominate and elect a pro tem chairperson.

After taking nominations, the committee elected Delegate Mel Begay.

While addressing the committee, Delegate Alton Joe Shepherd, who is sponsoring the bill, reiterated that Navajo law mandates the speaker be a member of the council, serves at the pleasure of the council, and shall be in good standing.

Naize was elected to serve his first term as speaker in January 2011, he was reelected last January.

"We selected him because he was in good standing, as I mentioned, as a member of this council and we choose him to be our first of equals to lead us forward in confidence," Shepherd said.

He said that he spoke to several delegates who took the position that Naize should step down. Naize has issued a statement saying he will not step down and that he did nothing wrong.

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Bill to remove Speaker Naize heads to council