The Colville Business Council, meeting in special session Thursday with all tribal representatives present, expelled fellow councilmember Andrea George from their ranks on ethics charges that she denied in a detailed statement.

George, elected last summer to represent the Nespelem District, is a lawyer her supporters insist was being expelled for calling into question procedures and actions the council takes, not for actual ethics violations.

Too many of those supporters gathered outside council chambers at 9 a.m. meeting to fit inside the meeting room with the CBC. Only about 30 were allowed in, plus one reporter.

The charges were read, George was allowed to respond to them, then a vote was taken quickly, with discussion being cut off before more discussion could take place.

George’s supporters objected verbally to the fact that CBC Chair Rodney Cawston voted, saying the rules allow the chairman to vote only in case of a tie. The vote was 8-6 to expel, including Cawston’s vote. That’s the minimum number necessary for the action to go through.

More details will follow next week when The Star is published.