Interior Department still in denial over Cobell

Friday, March 9, 2007  

The Bush administration's proposed $7 billion trust settlement is not an admission of liability, a senior Interior Department official said.

Jim Cason, the associate deputy secretary at Interior, took issue with a statement issued Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota). Cason said the proposal is a "recognition that where we are right now is not very productive" but not an admission of a billion-dollar liability.

Cason also said only about half of the money would be used to settle the Cobell lawsuit. It's not clear how much would be used to resolve the 250-plus tribal trust fund lawsuits.

Get the Story:
Feds propose settlement in Cobell case (AP 3/7)

Settlement Letter:
Kempthorne-Gonzales to SCIA (March 1, 2007)

Sen. Dorgan Statement:
DORGAN SAYS BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFERS $7 BILLION TO SETTLE SUIT OVER MISMANAGEMENT OF INDIAN TRUST FUNDS (March 6, 2007)

Other Documents:
Alberto Gonzales Testimony (March 1, 2005) | SCIA Views and Estimates (March 1, 2007)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Kempthorne - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm

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