FROM THE ARCHIVE
Judge questions state of Interior shutdown
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2002 U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth on Wednesday questioned the state of the Department of Interior's Internet-related shutdown, suggesting the delay in restoring access was a political ploy. On December 5, Lamberth ordered the Interior to protect the assets of 300,000 American Indians. A court investigator and computer hackers he hired broke into the Individual Indian Money (IIM) system and gained the ability to access, modify, delete and even create trust data. In response, department officials turned off e-mail, web site and other Internet access, saying they wanted to make sure they complied with the order. Lamberth called the tactic an updated version of the "Washington Monument syndrome." "Every time Interior loses its appropriation, the first thing they do is close the Washington Monument," he said. "Then they go looking for money. In this case, people can't get online to check their favorite campsites." "I really don't understand why Interior can't deal with this differently," Lamberth told Sandra Spooner, a Department of Justice attorney. The shutdown has resulted in a flurry of criticism leveled at not just the Interior but to Lamberth. His court has been flooded with calls and letters from angry tribal leaders, American Indians and others concerned about the status. Checks to IIM beneficiaries haven't been made since November. A plan to reconnect the system that processes payments has not been approved by special master Alan Balaran, as required by a document the government's own attorneys drafted. In hopes of forcing the Interior to print the checks, attorneys representing the account holders have asked the judge to intervene. Lamberth has indicated he will consider a motion they filed soon but has not set a date. Today on Indianz.Com:
End in sight for Norton contempt trial (1/10) Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com Related Stories:
Interior waited weeks on trust fund shutdown (1/9)
Order on trust fund payments sought (1/8)
Debate continues over trust fund shutdown (1/7)
Speedy trust fund payments sought (1/7)
Interior says working on shutdown (1/7)
Little hope for trust fund payments (1/4)
Computer security charge stands as checks delayed (12/21)
Checks to Great Lakes region delayed (12/20)
For BIA, a working holiday (12/19)
Taking lead on trust reform proves tough (12/19)
Baucus: Delay in checks 'unacceptable' (12/19)
Judge orders Interior reconnect (12/18)
Interior shutdown was 'overreaction' (12/18)
'Not be a very bright Christmas' (12/18)
Cost of Interior shutdown not known (12/17)
Interior computer agreement dropped (12/14)
Interior computer order finalized (12/13)
Editorial: Still ripping off Indians (12/12)
Griles in charge of IT reform (12/11)
Floods more important than Indians (12/10)
Judge holds security hearing (12/8)
DOI Shutdown: 'We're Hurting Tribes' (12/7)
From the top, a gamble in trust (12/7)
Norton acknowledges Internet problems (12/7)
'We're in the Dark' (12/7)
Judge orders Interior to cut Internet access (12/6)
Security contempt charge added (12/6)
Transcript of Dec. 5 trust fund hearing (12/6)
Interior doesn't understand court order (12/6)
Judge cuts trust fund access(12/5)
Report reveals attacks on tribal, Indian trust (12/5)
No Trust: Hacking the Department of Interior (12/5)
Judge holding secret hearings (12/4)
New: Security report released (12/4)
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