Head of Redskins’ Native American Charity Drew U.S. Scrutiny

The leader of Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder’s new foundation to assist Native Americans runs another nonprofit whose use of nearly $1-million in federal funds was questioned in a 2012 government review, according to USA Today.

Gary Edwards, a Cherokee and a former Secret Service agent, was introduced by Mr. Snyder as head of the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation at NFL owners’ meetings this week. He is also CEO of the National Native American Law Enforcement Association, which had a contract with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to recruit law-enforcement officers to work in native communities.

A May 2012 report by the federal inspector general’s office said the arrangement provided “no benefit” to the government, “thus wasting almost $1-million.” The report, which identified Mr. Edwards by position but not by name, said the association provided no successful applicants, and it cast doubt on the group’s assertions that it conducted recruitment at a tribal event and in newspaper advertisements.

In a statement released Thursday night by the Redskins, Mr. Edwards said the association “believes it met and exceeded all of its obligations under the contract with the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Office of Justice Services, and subsequently was paid after the contract was completed.”

Mr. Snyder has come under heavy criticism from some tribes and civil-rights groups for refusing to change his team’s nickname, widely viewed as a racial slur. Some Native American leaders have praised his outreach to tribes and reservations with the foundation, but others termed it an attempt to distract attention from the name controversy, USA Today and The Washington Post write.