The Navajo Nation Legislative Council said a special prosecutor has been appointed to determine whether tribal housing funds were misused when the tribe contracted to build affordable homes for its residents.
According to the council, the Window Rock District Court appointed the special prosecutor to investigate whether there was any unethical or illegal conduct tied to what it says were the tribe’s executive branch agreements for the deal.
President Buu Nygren has said he canceled a $24 million grant that would have expanded operations. Then the tribe hired a Navajo architect for nearly $25 million who in turn hired ZenniHome. That second deal is at the heart of the investigation. Nygren said on social media that he welcomes the investigation.
ZenniHome took over the now-shuttered Navajo Generating Station with the objective to build 160 culturally appropriate homes through Indigenous Design Studio and Architecture, a Navajo owned architect firm.
ZenniHome CEO Bob Worsley says he shuttered the factory after the first grant was canceled and the second agreement was halved to just 80 homes for $22 million. Twoh hundred ten workers were laid off when the factory abruptly closed in July.
