Dorgan says Pentagon should investigate ND armor plant

Washington (AP) Senator Byron Dorgan is calling for a Pentagon investigation into Kevlar safety and allegations against the Sioux Manufacturing company, which makes the protective cloth.

Sioux Manufacturing is owned by the Spirit Lake tribe. The company last year agreed to pay nearly 2 million dollars to settle a lawsuit in which it was accused of failing to follow specifications in making Kevlar cloth material.

The company denies wrongdoing, saying the employees were disgruntled and that it settled the lawsuit to avoid a costly legal battle.

Dorgan says the Pentagon will need to know of the allegations are accurate. He says if they're not, it raises questions about how and why the issue was raised.

A Pentagon spokesman did not respond today to a request for comment.

A government watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, has called for Congress to investigate the issue.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 02-28-08 1857CST | save this article / add to your favorites list