A judge in Window Rock has tossed out an ethics complaint levied against Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren, but this legal matter remains unresolved as the sitting leader faces a crowded field of 15 primary challengers come July.
Last Thursday’s dismissal from Window Rock District Court Judge Malcolm Begay was purely procedural — the district court believes special prosecutor Kyle Nayback has been pursuing the wrong forum to address his investigation.
Appointed by the Navajo Nation Council, Nayback has accused Nygren and his former chief of staff, Patrick Sandoval, of misusing public funds. Both of them maintain their innocence.
In the meantime, Begay argued that his courtroom does not have the jurisdiction to weigh in.
Despite Begay’s decision, this recent ruling does not limit either party from filing more lawsuits. In fact, Begay urged Nayback to submit his findings before the tribe’s Office of Hearings and Appeals.
In a statement, Nayback told KJZZ he is pleased that the Window Rock District Court “allowed our work to move forward,” adding that his Albuquerque-based law firm plans to refile its charges “promptly.”
As for Nygren, he shared in a social media post that Begay encouraged litigants to consider resolving this conflict by “finding healing through ceremony, and through peacemaking.”
But when asked by KJZZ whether he would heed the judge’s advice, Nygren did not reply.
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