The new leader of the Department of the Interior is issuing a strong denial in connection with a stalled tribally-owned casino in Connecticut. In his prior role as Deputy Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt met with opponents of the casino, The Guardian reported. But a spokesperson said the the April 2018 meeting had 'absolutely nothing to do with' the development. “Mr. Bernhardt had absolutely nothing to do with it. Absolutely nothing,' the spokesperson told The Guardian. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe joined forces to open the casino in response to growing competition in New England. Bernhardt's meeting, which went undisclosed until The Guardian's report, was with lawyers who represent MGM Resorts International, a non-Indian firm that opposed the tribal project. But Bernhardt, who now serves as Secretary of the Interior, claims the meeting was about the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation and its failed bid for federal recognition, The Guardian reported. The tribe, also based in Connecticut, saw its fortunes reverse during the George W. Bush administration, when Bernhardt served in other roles at the department.

• Latest Casino News In Connecticut
• Casino In East Windsor Ct
• East Windsor Ct Casino News
• East Windsor Ct Casino 2019 News
• New Casino In Ct

To satisfy the desire for a third casino, the tribes agreed with the state to build a new facility in East Windsor. It was approved in 2017 and strategically located to lure some customers who might otherwise continue up the highway to Springfield, Mass., where MGM has recently opened its latest gambling site. This rendering, released in June 2018, is of the casino the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes plan to build and operate in East Windsor. Officials announced Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, that the.

Access to our public lands has been a priority for this Administration,
which is why it was wonderful to celebrate the restoration of fishing and recreational access at Fletchers Cove on Friday! pic.twitter.com/8C5ZeRx0pB

Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Politics. The East Windsor casino project in northern Connecticut remains an empty plot of land despite being cleared to begin construction nearly a. EAST WINDSOR, Conn — Officials announced Wednesday that due to the impacts of COVID-19, a project planned to bring a casino to East Windsor has been halted. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

— Secretary David Bernhardt (@SecBernhardt) April 15, 2019

Latest Casino News In Connecticut

Chief Richard Velky, however, disputed Bernhardt's characterization about the meeting, telling the news outlet that the tribe retained a different law firm in connection with its acknowledgement efforts. On the other hand, the tribe was aligned with MGM's lawyers in connection with a lawsuit that challenged the new casino. That lawsuit, along with a separate one pursued by MGM, eventually failed. But as a result of the Trump administration's refusal to approve gaming agreements submitted by the Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes, MGM was able to open a commercial casino in neighboring Massachusetts without facing additional competition. The tribes, meanwhile, were kept in limbo until the Department of the Interior approved the Mohegan Tribe's agreement in June 2018 -- 10 months after it had been submitted to Washington, D.C. No explanation was provided for the lengthy delay. The Mashantucket Tribe had to wait even longer. Its gaming procedures weren't approved by Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney until last month. 'On March 15, 2019, Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney approved amendments proposed by the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe to its class III gaming procedures issued by the Secretary of the Interior in 1991,' a spokesperson for the Bureau of Indian Affairs said in a statement to Indianz.Com. 'On March 19, 2019, the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs approved related amendments to the Mashantucket – State of Connecticut Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for class III revenue sharing, along with the underlying MOU that had been in place since 1993,' the statement continued. 'These actions were the result of an ongoing dialogue between the Department and the Tribe, who have been litigating related issues over the last year.'

I am humbled by the President's confidence in me to lead the Department of the Interior subject to confirmation. pic.twitter.com/fdjUX1b7Od

— Secretary David Bernhardt (@SecBernhardt) March 8, 2019 The Mashantucket Tribe has since withdrawn a lawsuit that sought to force approval of its procedures. The Mohegan Tribe was part of the same lawsuit but withdrew after its agreement was approved last year. “I applaud the actions of the Department of Interior and extend my sincerest gratitude to Assistant Secretary Tara Sweeney and the Office of the Solicitor at the Interior Department for their assistance in resolving this matter,' Mashantucket Chairman Rodney Butler said in a statement to Indianz.Com after the latest development. The end of the lawsuit means the tribes won't be able to get to the bottom of the delay that affected their Tribal Winds Casino. As part of the litigation, they could have sought testimony from Trump administration officials, possibly including Bernhardt. The tribes also have been in the dark about an investigation that was initiated by the Office of Inspector General at the Department of the Interior into the matter. There has been no public resolution to the probe and the tribes have not been informed of any conclusions, a year after it began. According to people familiar with the investigation, leaders of both tribes were interviewed by the Inspector General. Also interviewed was Bernhardt's predecessor, former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. Zinke met with leaders of both tribes in June 2017. During that meeting, which took place on the Mohegan Reservation, he said he was going to approve their gaming agreements, according to people familiar with the conversation. But two months later, the BIA instead told the tribes that it wasn't going to take action for reasons that have not been fully explained. Internal documents subsequently obtained by POLITICO were heavily redacted to the point that it is impossible to discern the legal and policy rationale for such an approach. Between the June 2017 meeting and the September 2017 letters to the tribes, the only major leadership change that occurred at Interior was the arrival of David Bernhardt as Deputy Secretary in August of that year. Ryan Zinke's fortunes have since changed dramatically. After his interview with the Inspector General, concerns were raised about his truthfulness regarding the meeting in Connecticut, during which the governor at the time was also present. A federal grand jury has since looked into the matter, multiple sources in Indian policy circles told Indianz.Com last December as Zinke announced his resignation from the Trump administration. But nothing public has emerged from the purported proceeding, which is said to have taken place in Washington, D.C. Bernhardt, who was confirmed as Secretary of the Interior last Thursday, is now facing scrutiny of the same kind that dogged Zinke. The Inspector General on Monday told lawmakers and a watchdog group that it had opened an investigation into alleged ethical lapses after receiving seven complaints about him. 'The Inspector General’s investigation into Secretary Bernhardt’s extensive conflicts of interest is a necessary step to ensure that the public interest is paramount in decision-making at the Interior Department,' said Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. “Our federal ethics policies and procedures are in place to ensure federal officials are working for the benefit of the American people. It’s important to know that the Inspector General will be looking into whether officials at the Department of the Interior, including the newly confirmed Secretary, may have violated ethics regulations,' said Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota). The Tribal Winds Casino is expected to open within 18 to 24 months. It is located in the town of East Windsor in Connecticut, less than 15 miles from the MGM facility in neighboring Massachusetts. New records put Trump's interior chief under fresh scrutiny over casino row (The Guardian April 17, 2019)
New Interior Chief Bernhardt Reportedly Held Secret Meeting Linked to One of His Predecessor's Many Scandals (Common Dreams April 17, 2019)
Bernhardt’s office acknowledges meetings left off schedule (Roll Call April 16, 2019) Indian Gaming; Amendment to Class III Gaming Procedures for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe (March 25, 2019)
Indian Gaming; Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compact Taking Effect in the State of Connecticut (June 1, 2018) Lucky seven? New leader of Department of the Interior already under scrutiny (April 16, 2019)
Former Secretary Ryan Zinke under grand jury investigation for tribal debacle (February 22, 2019)
'Significant political pressure': Former Secretary Zinke under scrutiny in tribal lawsuit (February 15, 2019)
'Tribal Winds': Long-delayed gaming project back on the agenda in Connecticut (January 28, 2019)
Tribes see decline in revenues as new casino remains in limbo (January 7, 2019)
Tribes see another decline in slot machine revenues in Connecticut (November 15, 2018)
News reports link Secretary Zinke's criminal woes to tribal gaming (November 1, 2018)
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation seeks to revive gaming lawsuit (October 17, 2018)
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation sees setback in case against Trump administration (October 2, 2018)
Tribes see dip in slot machine revenues as rival opens new facility (September 18, 2018)
Tribes see decline in slot machine revenues as they await new arrival (August 15, 2018)
Mashantucket and Mohegan tribes report mixed slot machine revenues (June 19, 2018)
Tribes plan to break ground on long-awaited casino in Connecticut (June 14, 2018)
Trump administration still mum on gaming agreement for Mashantucket Tribe (June 13, 2018)
Trump administration reverses course on tribal gaming agreement in Connecticut (June 4, 2018)
Online gaming also on the table as Connecticut negotiates with tribes (May 24, 2018)
Connecticut governor seeks to negotiate sports betting with tribes (May 22, 2018)
Mashantucket and Mohegan interested in pursuing casinos in Japan (May 16, 2018)
Mohegan Tribe gains sole ownership of $5 billion gaming project in Korea (May 9, 2018)

Casino In East Windsor Ct

Non-Indian firm fighting tribes announces earlier opening date for casino (April 26, 2018)
Lawmakers from Connecticut prompted probe into handling of tribal agreements (April 25, 2018)
Tribes welcome probe into Trump administration's handling of gaming agreements (April 23, 2018)
Tribes still facing legal questions in bid for new casino in Connecticut (April 17, 2018)
Trump administration hit for keeping two tribes in Connecticut in the dark (April 6, 2018)
Mohegan Tribe on track to complete convention center at casino (March 29, 2018)
Tribes finally start demolition at site of delayed casino in Connecticut (March 6, 2018)
Tribes still planning to start work on delayed casino in Connecticut (February 28, 2018)
Trump team appears willing to delay tribal casino deal in Connecticut indefinitely (February 6, 2018)
Tribes ready to start initial work on delayed casino in Connecticut (February 2, 2018)
Former Interior Secretary Gale Norton lobbies against tribes' casino (February 1, 2018)

The head of Connecticut's Mohegan Tribe said he remains hopeful a new casino can still be built in East Windsor, even though tribal officials announced this week now is not the time.

The two tribes operating casinos in Connecticut, the Mohegans and Mashantucket Pequots, had joined forces and planned to build a new casino called Tribal Winds.

But on Wednesday, they announced they were postponing the project indefinitely.

East Windsor Ct Casino News

'It’s unfortunate that, you know, a global pandemic happened, and it’s just has forced us to put things on hold,' James Gessner, the chairman of the Mohegan Tribe, said in an interview Friday.

East Windsor First Selectman Jason Bowsza said he wasn’t surprised by the news.

'I think it makes a lot for them to make sure they have their existing operations on solid footing before they look to expand,' he said.

East Windsor Ct Casino 2019 News

One possible consideration in all this: Governor Ned Lamont has indicated the East Windsor casino was complicating a potential deal on sports betting in the state.

Connecticut's two existing tribal casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, have seen significant drops in revenue since the pandemic began.

New Casino In Ct

The slot revenues at Mohegan Sun were about 18% lower in October 2020 than in October of 2019. At Foxwoods, slot revenues declined 24% during the same period.