Still no report on chief from Osage Congress

An investigation is continuing by a five-person committee of Osage Nation Congress into charges levied against Osage Principal Chief John D. Red Eagle.

Members of the Select Committee of Inquiry resumed their two-month-long probe Monday at the start of a special session. The session was called to deal with several pending budgetary matters, as well as to consider resolutions on changing the tribal tobacco tax arrangement and for amending the Osage Nation open records act.

Listed as the No. 1 item on the agenda was meeting of the investigative committee and issuance of its report into the charges against the chief.

Many attended the initial session expecting to hear the completed report only to see the committee return to its non-public meeting. No time was given as to when the report might be released.

Red Eagle is being investigated on 15 counts alleging abuses of power and ethics violations. It is believed that the findings of the committee, as revealed in its report, could lead to proceedings calling for removal of the chief from office.

The Osage News, an independent tribal newspaper, quoted Speaker of the Osage Nation Congress Raymond Red Corn as saying: “I believe it is fair to say the report will be ready when the committee determines it is ready. The quality and accuracy of this report is of critical importance, both to the Congress and the Osage people. The (committee) understands that importance and will release the report when it feels those standards of quality and accuracy have been met.”

Red Eagle did not attend the Monday session, reportedly due to a recent death in his family.

The Congress is scheduled to re-convene at 10 a.m. Thursday.