Oklahoma governor hires law firm in tribal gambling battle

Image: MGN

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is hiring an out-of-state law firm to represent him in his ongoing dispute with Native American tribes over casino gambling.

Stitt, the Republican Governor, announced on Friday the hiring of Seattle-based Perkins Coie to advise his office in his attempt to renegotiate the state’s gaming compacts with the tribes.

Three of the most powerful tribes in the state sued Stitt in federal court last week after Stitt contended that the tribes would be operating illegally after January 1st. The two sides are locked in a dispute about whether the existing compacts expired or automatically renewed on that date.