As a reminder, the first ethics complaint filed by Special Prosecutor Kyle Nayback was dismissed in December 2025 by the Special Division of the Window Rock District Court for lack of jurisdiction.
This new filing repeats the allegations from the original complaint, and adds other allegations that are already part of ongoing litigation in Curley v. Nygren. That’s a separate lawsuit between Speaker Crystalyne Curley and me that is still ongoing—and in which the Court has not made any findings on the merits.
And some of the allegations in the new filing have already been refuted by Speaker Curley herself. The second amended ethics complaint alleges that I supported an allegedly “unlawful” transfer of funds to the operational budget for the Office of the President and Vice President (OPVP). But the Office of Management and Budget reviewed and approved the transfer request, and has since re-confirmed that it was proper.
Importantly, the Speaker has characterized the transfer request funds as OPVP operating funds in multiple public statements and press releases. She and the Navajo Nation Council have publicly stated that the Office of the President and Vice President has nearly $300,000 in operating funds. In a September 30, 2025, Council press release, she stated, “The Council has already approved… nearly $300,000 for [OPVP] operations.” Yet in Court, the Speaker claims most of those funds can’t be used for OPVP operations, but can only be used by a non-government entity outside of OPVP. Both cannot be true. As Diné, we are taught that “words are sacred,” but the Speaker has told one story to the public and another in Court.
I remain focused on serving our communities. This is a distraction from all the good work our office continues to do.
Allegations in a complaint are not findings or conclusions. My office will continue to address this matter through our legal representatives.
