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Thompson Statement on Wappo Tribe Ruling

Statement

Date: March 24, 2015
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Gambling and Gaming Indigenous Peoples

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today released the following statement after U.S. District Court Judge ruled against the Mishewal Wappo tribe in their suit against the federal government seeking status restoration. Had the tribe been successful in its suit, land in Napa County would have been placed into federal trust, exempting it from all local and state regulations.

"More than 50 years after the Wappo tribe was congressionally derecognized, an attempt to circumvent Congress and the U.S. Department of Interior by going through the courts rightfully failed," said Thompson. "The motivation behind this lawsuit was clear. By the group's own admission, if the lawsuit was successful, they would have attempted to build a casino in Napa or Sonoma Counties. This ruling respects separation of powers, complies with established statute of limitations law, and protects our region's important agricultural lands from Las Vegas-style gambling."


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