Blackfeet Tribal Chairman asks Augare to Step Down

According to an Associated Press story this morning,

The chairman of the Blackfeet Indian tribe has asked a tribal council member and state senator to remove himself from his duties until his legal troubles are behind him.

Sen. Shannon Augare rejected the request, saying Chairman Willie Sharp Jr. made it after Augare questioned some of the chairman's actions.

Sharp wrote Augare a letter on Friday requesting he "respectfully step away" from tribal business and "determine what avenue is to be taken" when Augare's charges are resolved.

Augare is charged with misdemeanor counts of drunken driving, reckless driving and obstruction of a peace officer. He is accused of fleeing a sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop earlier this year.

Augare says he will continue doing his job unless a majority of the tribal council asks him to step down.