Custer Battlefield Museum Update

[Diane Merkel]

Kortlander's response to the federal investigation of his museum:

www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2006/May/05/kortlanders-full-response-to-the-federal-of-his/





Link fixed - DM.

[markland]

Not taking sides, as I don't know the people or politics, but it would not be the first time that the government had conducted an illegal fishing operation. Kortlunder is just lucky that they haven't accused him of violating the Patriot Act and thrown in under the jail! Of course, they have RICO.

Does he really own the town of Garyowen or was that simply an unclear sentence in his release?

Billy

[bhist]

Yep, you’re right Billy, you don’t know the politics – that’s exactly what Kortlander is hoping will be the case with anyone who reads his “press release.”

I think he may have painted himself into a corner with this one. He should not have released this letter – not sure who his lawyer is, but he didn’t serve his client well on this one.

When one reads Kortlander’s response, it raises more questions – not from the government side, but Kortlander’s. His excuses do not seem to make sense to me.

The funniest part of it is his claim that the government wants to put him out of business so they won’t have any competition for their new visitor center. They could care less and the fact that there is no chance for a new VC right now makes his argument even more laughable.

[markland]

Bob, you are right about his lawyer doing him a disservice-if he consulted one and I can't imagine that having been done. No halfway decent attorney would have let something like this out in to the public purview. Especially this paragragh: "A number of years ago, I had secured a letter issued by a BLM law enforcement agent that authenticated a number of Custer Battlefield artifacts, and which confirmed that they were lawfully acquired from private lands within the exterior boundaries of the Custer Battlefield. I had used that letter in my private business of buying and selling historical artifacts, which partially supports the museum activities. For reasons that are unknown to me, BLM administrators objected to my legitimate use of this letter, and without opportunity to present facts or any other ability to challenge their unilateral determination, they simply sent me a letter to cease and desist. When the search warrant was executed by the federal raiding party, it mentioned both letters."

While I am sure that he means different, a casual reading leaves one with the idea that he has been using the BLM letter as a carte blanche for any artifacts found, not only the ones covered specifically by the letter. That is the type of sentence which a first-year law student would not let pass much less a proper attorney.

Be good all,

Billy

[Scout]

Must be something in the water at the LBH...Putt Thompson's problem with questionable boots and Crazy Horse photos...Kotlander's stash. The park trying to discourage local Indians from letting people metal detecting on their property. Plenty of bad feelings to go around. I had a 'run-in' with park rangers near Shiloh Battlefield once while metal detecting far off the park. They actually came on private property to accuse me of had being on the park. I informed them that that was an outright lie.. They had a habit of railroading people there until they arrested an U.S. Army colonel. Several parl personnel got transfered to timbucktoo after that. They can be real 'Barneys' once in awhile...there are alot of good ones though. I wouldn't make a judgement on Kortlander strictly based on my expeirences.

[wildwilly]

I HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT LIVES JUST ABOVE THE CROW RESAVATION. SO I MANAGE TO STOP AT THE BATTLFIELD AT LEAST OUNCE EACH TRIP I LOVE IT AND SEE SOME THING NEW EACH STOP .. THE CROW FAIR IN AUG. IF YOU CAN TAKE THE HEAT IS FANTASTIC. MY TRUE LOVE IS DEAR OLD BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE WILD BUNCH BUT I HAVE TO BRANCH OUT A LITTLE HAVE A REAL INTERST IN THE POWDER SPRING GANG OR THE BENDER BUNCH BUT DO ENJOY ......OLD GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER AND I DO RECOMEND TO STOP ANY TIME YOUR EVEN CLOSE BY. WILDWILLY

[Diane Merkel]

Welcome to the boards, wildwilly!

I've never been up there in August for the fair, but I've heard it's really good. Maybe I'll make it one of these days.

Diane