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MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2001

Incarceration wasn't probably what Secretary of Interior Gale Norton had in mind when she accepted a job in the Bush Cabinet, but her handling of the trust fund might land her there if a federal judge agrees with the plaintiffs suing the government for mismanaging Indian assets.

In addition to placing Norton and others in jail, the plaintiffs want U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth to appoint a receiver for the failed system. The plaintiffs are suggesting court monitor Joseph S. Kieffer III, who has slammed the Bush administration repeatedly, be named the caretakeer.

Interior spokesperson Stephanie Hanna said the government opposes the system a receivership. Lamberth in December 1999 gave the government five years to prove itself.

Get the Story:
Indians Want Receiver for Trust Fund (The Washington Post 10/22)
Indians' attorney wants Norton jailed (The Denver Post 10/21)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Norton wanted off trust fund (10/22)

Relevant Links:
Office of the Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Trust Management Improvement Project - http://www.doi.gov/bia/trust/tmip.htm
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

Related Stories:
Norton blasted on trust fund (10/17)
Interior Solicitor on trust fund crash course (10/17)
Trust fund progress testing 'credibility' (10/11)
Trust fund fix risking 'failure' (10/10)
Memo: Solicitor's order was 'intimidating' (10/10)
In The Hoop: Interior Bungling (10/10)
Infighting delaying trust fund fix (9/20)
Objections delaying trust fund report (9/6)
Norton pushes trust fund progress (8/27)