ARIZONA NEWS

Claims of faulty PPE sent to Navajo Nation prompts calls for investigation

Jun 2, 2020, 4:15 AM

(AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)...

(AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

(AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery)

PHOENIX — The Arizona Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus is calling for an investigation following claims that faulty PPE had been supplied to the Navajo Nation.

The caucus alleges that nearly 250,000 breathing masks and another 130,000 masks that were delivered to the Navajo Nation last month are potentially unusable, according to a press release.

“The Indigenous Peoples Caucus call for an immediate state and federal investigation into why the Navajo Nation was sent faulty PPE,” the release stated.

“The Caucus demands to know what the Arizona and federal government’s plan is to not only get sufficient PPE to the Navajo Nation, but the plan to help the Tribal Governments across Arizona respond to COVID-19.”

Josh Fuentes — a former deputy chief of staff for President Donald Trump — is said to own the company responsible for delivering the face masks.

The Arizona Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus also said Fuentes’ company had no experience in producing or delivering PPE.

The Navajo Nation reported 5,348 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and a death count of 246 on Sunday night.

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Claims of faulty PPE sent to Navajo Nation prompts calls for investigation