Governor Christie’s administration is being sued by the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation. On Monday a civil-rights action lawsuit was filed in federal court, against acting Attorney General John Hoffman. The lawsuit alleges that the Christie administration has attempted to rescind the state’s recognition of them as an American Indian tribe. The Nanticoke tribe, headquartered in Bridgeton, has about 3,000 members. They claim in their suit that the state’s actions are motivated by the fear that they will construct an Indian casino, even though the tribe’s charter clearly prohibits gaming. The suit says that without the official recognition, the tribe faces loss of jobs, college scholarships, and federal grants.
