Navajo Nation Council Dismisses Attorney General Ethel Branch Amid Controversy

The Navajo Nation Council voted to remove Attorney General Ethel Branch during a special session on Monday, with the decision made by a margin of 13-6. This legislative action, identified as Legislation 0242-24, was sponsored by Law and Order Committee Chair Eugenia Charles-Newton. Notably, the reasons for Branch’s removal were not disclosed in the proposal.

The council approved the measure without any debate, as it was included in the consent agenda for the session. Under Navajo Nation protocol, the attorney general is appointed by the president and confirmed by the council, but Title II of the Navajo Nation Code allows the council to remove the attorney general at their discretion.

Following her dismissal, Deputy Attorney General Heather L. Clah has stepped in as interim attorney general. Clah brings 18 years of legal experience to the role, having previously served as corporate attorney for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and as legal counsel for former President Ben Shelly.

In response to her removal, Branch took to Facebook, urging her supporters to voice their opposition to the president’s decision. She expressed gratitude to those advocating for fairness and due process in the face of her removal, which she deemed arbitrary.

Branch’s initial tenure as attorney general spanned from 2015 to 2019, under former President Russell Begaye. Her recent dismissal follows the publication of a preliminary investigation report addressing sexual harassment claims made by Vice President Richelle Montoya against President Buu Nygren. The claims were ultimately deemed “not warranted” after an eight-month investigation.

President Nygren publicly expressed disappointment with the council’s decision, emphasizing the lack of justification for Branch’s removal. He voiced concerns that such actions reflect instability within the Navajo Nation government and could hinder important legislative initiatives, including the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act and proposed amendments to RECA.

“Attorney General Branch has done an exemplary job that was clearly unappreciated by this council,” Nygren stated, underscoring the implications of this political shift on the Navajo Nation’s governance.