FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — A Navajo Nation jury on Friday acquitted the tribe's former top financial officer of charges that she misrepresented information about a company hired to do rapid COVID-19 testing on the reservation.
“I felt pretty comfortable that we won, but until you hear the words, ‘not guilty,’ you just never know," her attorney David Jordan said. “A lot of tears, a lot of relief. She's really been through a lot the last couple of years. This is a pretty big vindication.” The department alleged the company wasn't qualified, but received more than $3 million for pandemic-related services, including testing for about 110 employees in the controller’s office. The funding came from the Navajo Nation’s share of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act money.