During the Oct. 20, 2014, Supreme Court hearing on a Writ of Mandamus against the Navajo Nation Election Board and Navajo Election Office, I incorrectly referred to presidential candidate DONALD BENALLY as the presidential candidate that sued the Navajo Nation.
Mr. Benally’s supporters submitted the following unsigned letter that requested a correction. I also was contacted by disqualified presidential candidate Chris Deschene’s attorney, Brian Lewis, who provided me with his FINAL BRIEF on the Writ of Mandamus to the Navajo Supreme Court. I sincerely apologize to Mr. Donald Benally for incorrectly identifying him as the presidential candidate that sued the Navajo Nation.
Here is the unsigned letter that was emailed to me today, Oct. 22, 2014. At the bottom of the unsigned letter is the signed letter, which is referred to as “attached letter”. Please click on the words “attached letter” to view the signed letter from Mr. Donald Benally’s supporters.
from: Brenda Hoskie
to: mshebala@gmail.com
cc: tarviso@navajotimes.com,
Al Henderson
Donald Dodge
Nancy Evans
Brenda Hoskie
date: Wed, Oct 22, 2014 at 11:54 AM
subject: Immediately correction on your online newsfeed/blog on Donald Benally
SENT VIA EMAIL TO mshebala@gmail.com & HAND DELIVERY TO NAVAJO TIMES
October 22, 2014
Dear Ms. Shebala:
Ya’at’eeh. Thank you for your longstanding journalist service to the Navajo public. We, as supporters of Donald Benally, a 2014 Navajo Nation Presidential Candidate, are writing you in regards to your recent coverage of the Navajo Nation Supreme Court (“Supreme Court”) hearing in the case,Tsosie and Whitethorne v. Deschene, held on Monday, October 20, 2014.
According to your online newsfeed/blog of this case, you stated that Brian Lewis, an attorney in the case, mentioned that Mr. Benally sued the Navajo Nation, and thus would not qualify as a presidential candidate. We confirmed with Mr. Lewis that this statement is incorrect and false. We reviewed the briefings and documents filed by Mr. Lewis to the Supreme Court, and Mr. Lewis clearly does not mentioned Mr. Benally at all.
Therefore, we request that you immediately correct your online newsfeed/blog and other online posting and printed newspaper and materials issued and published by the Navajo Times. In addition, we request that a written apology be addressed to Mr. Benally, his family and supporters for the false statement because such false statement undoubtedly can damage, inflict injury and cause defamation to the reputation of Mr. Benally and his campaign.
We expect that you will address our requests immediately and with the upmost professionalism and journalist ethics. Thank you very much for your time and cooperation. Ahe’hee.
Sincerely,
_______________________________
Al Henderson
_______________________________
Nancy Evans
______________________________
Brenda Hoskie
_______________________________
Donald Dodge
Please find attached letter,
