Navajo Nation Faces Leadership Turmoil as Attorney General Ousted Again
The Navajo Nation’s leadership is once again under scrutiny following the abrupt removal of its new attorney general, Heather Clah. This marks the second time in less than a year that the tribe’s top legal officer has been dismissed, leading to questions about transparency and governance within the tribe’s Legislative Council.
In a swift decision last week, the Legislative Council voted to remove Clah from her position without providing any public explanation. This move perplexed many, as some council members had previously shown support for Clah before ultimately voting her out.
Legislator Amber Crotty expressed her concerns regarding Clah’s handling of uranium transport negotiations with Energy Fuels while she was acting attorney general. Despite her reservations, Crotty still sought further clarification on Clah’s dismissal, saying, “Because this is a huge pivot from just a few days ago on the council floor and how that vote was processed.”
She further criticized the council’s lack of transparency, stating, “I’m not invalidating the concerns. What I’m saying is how they’re being presented and what mechanisms have we used to explain these conflicts or these concerns to the public that we represent.”
Following a private session, the Legislative Council voted 11-1 in favor of Clah’s removal, with Crotty also voting for the decision. Clah had only recently been confirmed in her role, adding to the confusion surrounding her sudden ousting.
Navajo President Buu Nygren has voiced his disapproval of the council’s actions, highlighting the removal of two Navajo women from the attorney general position in a short span of time. Clah’s predecessor, Ethel Branch, was removed in December after her office cleared the president of wrongdoing in a harassment investigation initiated by the tribe’s vice-president.
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