ELTON, La. Records of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, which operates a casino in the Lake Charles area, have been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury.

The American Press of Lake Charles says it has obtained a copy of the subpoena, which orders delivery of documents to a grand jury meeting in Washington.

The Coushattas are one of several tribes under congressional investigation over their spending practices. According to documents that have been made public, the Coushattas spent more than 32 (m) million dollars for lobbyists over about three years.

The Coushatta's lobbying efforts included a campaign to keep Louisiana's last riverboat casino license from going to Lake Charles. Pinnacle Entertainment won the license and is building a 365 (m) million dollar resort that will compete against the Coushatta's Grand Casino at Kinder.

Current tribal leaders have defended the spending.

Louisiana political consultant Roy Fletcher, who has been hired by the Texas law firm that now represents the Coushatta tribal council, says the tribe is complying with the subpoena.

AP
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