Staff Reports
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Special Prosecutor Kyle Nayback has taken action to stop what he identifies as an unauthorized investigation into ZenniHome and Indigenous Design Studio + Architect, confirming his legal authority under Navajo Nation Code and telling the Navajo Nation acting attorney general to cease all related work immediately as of April 1.
“The Navajo Nation Department of Justice is working to aggressively pursue remedies against IDSA and ZenniHome,” Acting Attorney General Kris Beecher said in a Feb. 11 Navajo Nation Department of Justice press release. He confirmed that NNDOJ has been diligently investigating the matter.
In a letter dated Feb.16, in a response to the acting attorney general, Nayback clarified that under 2 N.N.C. § 2021(J), he has jurisdiction over this matter, including the ZenniHome investigation and asked Beecher to step aside and turn over all investigatory findings.
In an email correspondence from Beecher on Feb. 23, he clarified that an outside law firm was investigating the matter. The law firm hired to investigate is the same law firm that represents the president of the Navajo Nation.
The Special Division of the Window Rock District Court appointed Nayback to investigate possible unethical and illegal conduct tied to the executive branch’s contracts with IDSA and ZenniHome.
“The law is clear that conflicts of interest arise when one law firm represents multiple parties in the same matters with competing interests,” Nayback said. “If that is happening here, it calls into question the integrity of the entire investigation.”
IDSA is a Navajo-owned company registered with the State of New Mexico and the Navajo Nation, while ZenniHome is registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission.
The general public with relevant information may email: 4nnjustice@naybacklaw.com and/or vist https://www.nnjustice.org or call 1‑877-466-5878.
