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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2002

"A federal judge has once again found a Cabinet official in contempt over failed efforts to account for money the government holds in trust for Indians. District Judge Royce Lamberth in Washington, D.C., this week declared Interior Secretary Gale Norton and an assistant committed “a fraud on the court” for filing false and misleading statements regarding the government’s progress in rectifying a century of bad accounting.

In time, the courts can settle matters – undoubtedly with a massive judgment in favor of Indian beneficiaries. Congress ultimately will have to pony up a huge sum to square things with Indians. American taxpayers will wind up paying through the nose for generations of government malfeasance and incompetence. We shudder to think how much money will be squandered on legal fees in the meantime. . ."

Get the Story:
Editorial: It’s a job for politicians, not accountants (The Missoulian 9/20)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://www.ncai.org/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

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Norton's denials ring hollow (9/20)
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Editorial: Norton's trust boondoggle (9/20)
Editorial: Norton 'toss in the towel' (9/20)
Norton's contempt worries not over (9/19)
Editorial: Norton has made no reforms (9/19)
Column: Norton, aides like 'kids' on trust (9/19)
Norton cited for Indian trust 'fraud' (9/19)
Norton 'unfit' to manage Indian trust (9/18)
Griles nearly perjured himself (9/18)
Congress responds to contempt (9/18)
Lamberth makes ruling on trust (9/18)
Editorial: Send Norton the liar to jail (9/18)
Editorial: Norton deserves rebuke (9/18)
Editorial: Norton is 'disgrace' (9/18)
Slonaker feels vindicated by ruling (9/18)
Norton found in contempt for trust fund (9/17)
Judge holds Norton in contempt (9/17)
Rahall: End the trust fund charade (9/17)