FARMINGTON The Navajo Nation Council has removed Pearline Kirk as the top financial officer for the tribal government, stemming from allegations that her office entered an illegal contract for COVID-19 testing on employees and other related services.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez on May 20 named former auditor general Elizabeth Begay as acting controller. Begay will start work on May 21, according to the president s office.
Delegates voted 13 in favor and 10 opposed on May 19 on emergency legislation brought forward last week by Delegate Pernell Halona.
While the bill does not cite reasons for removing Kirk, it states the council no longer desires to retain her as controller and finds it to be in the best interest to remove her from the office.