It took federal authorities less than one day after taking the lead in the investigation of Montana Democrat State Senator Shannon Augare’s bizare actions a month ago to make charges official. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon filed documents Friday in U.S. District Court in Great Falls with charges of DUI, obstruction, and reckless driving. Augare also served as the chairman for the 2011 interim legislative committee to study new possible DUI laws in Montana.
This is the second time in two months that Augare has faced allegations of using his membership in the Blackfeet Tribe and its tribal sovereignty to avoid law enforcement. We noted yesterday in April during the legislative session Senator Augare and senate democrats attempted to halt all business by invoking a parliamentary move that demands every member is present before business can resume, and Senator Augare was ‘missing’. The instance led to a ‘riot’ in the capital leading to thousands of dollars worth of damage that state democrats will pay for.
Regardless, the charges are misdemeanors and if convicted, Augare would face penalties of between nine and 15 months in prison and up to $1,800 in fines.
Augare and his family were at the bar before 7 p.m. that night, and the employee served Augare drinks throughout the evening, according to the affidavit. The video footage showed Augare leave later that night with his mother in a pickup.
A few weeks ago the Great Falls Tribune noted that a few months before the democrat state senator fled a sheriff’s deputy who suspected him of drunken driving, a tribal judge expunged two DUI convictions from the record of the senator’s brother and said the tribe shouldn’t have reported them to the state.
Media Trackers pointed out a few weeks ago that this isn’t the only instance of democrats facing charges of corruption and shady dealings when it comes to issues involving Native tribes and reservations. Former Democratic legislator Tony Belcourt was indicted in federal court on charges of stealing a portion of the $33 million in stimulus funds received by Belcourts construction company, Chippewa-Cree Construction Corp.
The corruption and “above the law” mentality goes beyond criminal charges, it also exists in electoral politics. Media Trackers explains:
After the closely contested 2006 U.S. election in which current Democratic Sen. Jon Tester upset incumbent Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, former Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer told a group of lawyers in Philadelphia that he helped Tester win the election by using tribal police to intimidate poll watchers. After describing possible threats by tribal law enforcement, Schweitzer said, We didnt lose one single vote. After heavy criticism, Schweitzer and staff later said the stories were merely jokes.
So far, Senator Augare and the Montana Democratic Party have yet to issue a single statement throughout the entire development over the last month.
