Special prosecutor files second amended ethics complaint accusing Nygren of budget misconduct

Special Prosecutor Kyle T. Nayback filed a second amended ethics complaint on Feb. 2, 2026 in Navajo Nation District Court accusing President Buu Nygren of six violations tied to the fall 2025 budget process and related personnel decisions. The filing alleges improper reallocation of restricted funds into the Office of the President and Vice President (OPVP) operating budget without prior federal approval, pressure on the Navajo Nation controller to authorize transfers, and the termination and replacement of the controller with someone who later approved the questioned transfers. The court has issued a summons requiring President Nygren to file a written response within 20 days of service.

The complaint centers on how restricted grant or program funds were handled during budget negotiations in late 2025. The Special Prosecutor argues the actions harmed fiscal controls and public confidence and that the conduct raises broader questions about the management of government money. Remedies sought under Navajo Nation law include removal from office, disqualification from future public service, forfeiture of compensation, a public reprimand and restitution; any penalty would depend on the court’s findings.

The second amended complaint follows an earlier, broader complaint filed Nov. 21, 2025 that alleged a series of ethical violations dating from Jan. 2023 through May 2025. Those earlier allegations include misuse of a Navajo Nation travel P-Card for family lodging and meals, directions to staff to conceal charges by misidentifying family members as OPVP staff, alleged improper hiring of Nygren’s father-in-law John Blackwater Jr. to an at-will political position, and requiring at least one staff member to perform domestic and personal duties outside the scope of official responsibilities.

A related Dec. 14, 2025 complaint names former Chief of Staff Patrick Sandoval. That filing alleges Sandoval “requested and accepted more than $10,000 in gifts or loans for himself or for President Nygren from Innovative Electric, a company that was seeking payment from the Office of the President and Vice President in excess of $500,000 at the time,” and cites 2 N.N.C. § 3756 and 2 N.N.C. § 3744. The Special Prosecutor requested a hearing in the Sandoval matter and sought sanctions including a five-year disqualification from Navajo Nation public office, forfeiture of compensation for 30 days to one year, a public reprimand, and restitution.

Nayback emphasized the stakes in a statement: “The integrity of the Navajo Nation government and its lawful fiscal processes is the lifeblood of the Navajo people. The formal ethics complaint filed yesterday alleges serious violations from the budget process and related personnel decisions. I am committed to addressing these allegations fairly through the judicial process.”

For San Juan County residents, the disputes matter because alleged misuse of restricted funds and disruptions in executive office staffing can slow payments, delay infrastructure work, and complicate federal grant compliance on projects that serve local communities. The Office of Hearings and Appeals has been described as conflicted from hearing OPVP matters because it sits within the Executive Branch, which is why the Special Prosecutor filed in District Court. Next steps include the 20-day response window, potential scheduling of court hearings, and public access to the filed complaints and any exhibits that will clarify the amounts and timelines involved.