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Ute Tribe targets Rep. Rob Bishop over land dispute

Posted at 5:47 PM, Oct 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-21 19:47:02-04

SALT LAKE CITY -- The Ute Tribe has created a political action committee and funded it with $100,000, all earmarked for a campaign to defeat First District Congressman Rob Bishop.

Tribal Chairman Shaun Chapoose tells Fox 13 they have tried to work with Bishop, but they say he hasn’t respected their tribal laws and their claim to 100,000 acres of land included in his Public Lands Initiative.

“He quotes us all the time, saying, ‘I've talked to the tribe and they're behind me.’ Well that's a lie,” Chapoose said.

Congressman Bishop says he’s suspicious of the timing of the argument.

“That’s patently false," he said. "I’ve been out there on the reservation talking to the council."

The UTEPAC ads ask voters to support Bishop’s Democratic Challenger, Peter Clemens.