I’ve been following the circus surrounding Montana State Senator Shannon Augare so much that I can pronounce his last name correctly just about every time I see it. It’s a name recognition thing that most elected officials wouldn’t want because of the situation.

For those not acquainted with Sen. Augare’s circumstances, over Memorial Day weekend a Glacier County (Montana) Sheriff’s deputy pulled Augare’s vehicle over and contended he smelled alcohol. The traffic stop was on the Blackfeet reservation. Augare reportedly told the deputy that he did not have jurisdiction on the reservation to stop him. Augare reportedly left the scene as the deputy was trying to take his keys. The deputy did not give chase, but called Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services. By the way, Augare is a Blackfeet tribal councilman.

Apparently the Glacier County Sheriff’s office issued a news release about the traffic stop and that’s why we know all about this.

For Augare’s actions, he made the “Making Montana Proud” section of my weekly “Caught My Eye” column.

The Associated Press continued to ask questions of the Blackfeet tribal prosecutor and provide updates.

Recently we discovered that the FBI was investigating Augare and then it was disclosed that “Federal prosecutors on Friday charged state Sen. Shannon Augare with drunken driving, obstructing a peace officer and reckless driving.”

It seems that the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, Michael Cotter, decided to pull some of his best and brightest from prosecuting the very serious crime of growing marijuana to prosecute Augare.  Continue reading →