PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Narragansett Indian Tribe is suing its longtime Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas, accusing him of refusing to abdicate his authority after being impeached last month.

The tribe, through its tribal council, is asking the court to order Thomas to relinquish his leadership role and to declare as valid the results of the tribe's 2016 elections in a lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, Rhode Island. The suit is brought by lawyer Misty Delgado on behalf of First Tribal Councilman Domingo Monroe.

According to the complaint, the Tribal Council and the tribe as a whole voted to impeach Thomas on Oct. 1, following an uncontested election in July. The move removed him as chief sachem and ended his employment with the Charlestown-based tribe, the suit says.

The tribe accuses Thomas of refusing to turn over the necessary paperwork for the Tribal Council to assume control and initiate the election of a new chief sachem. The suit says that Thomas continues to conduct tribal business and illegally created a tribal government that gives budgetary powers to members who are not entitled.

"I'm rolling with the punches," Thomas said Friday from tribal headquarters in Charlestown. "There are laws that people have to follow. There's been a ruling from the tribal court in 2014 ... that they have completely and utterly ignored."

That ruling involved a 2014 tribal election that was also challenged, he said.

Delgado declined to comment on the lawsuit Friday, other than to say that they were in the process of trying to serve Thomas.

Monroe could not be reached immediately for comment. The case is being heard by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr.