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FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2002

"The odds of Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton becoming the first Bush Cabinet member held in contempt of court increased considerably this week.

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth, who is presiding over Mrs. Norton's contempt trial, found that a court investigator's report on the serious lack of computer security for Indian trust data handled by Interior makes a prima facie case for contempt.

The judge told U.S. Attorney's Office lawyers defending Mrs. Norton that it's now up to them to prove the report is "clearly erroneous" — not likely, since Interior had two months to challenge the report's contents and didn't do so.

Maybe they were too embarrassed."

Get the Story:
In the Beltway: Continuous contempt (The Washington Times 1/18)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Norton scraps trust reform blueprint (1/18)

Get IT Reports:
GAO Report | Special Master Status Report (1/15) | Special Master Report and Recommendations Regarding the Security of Trust Data (12/4)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://130.94.214.68/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

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Interior shutdown still unresolved (1/16)
Norton notes 'challenge' of daily work (1/15)
McCaleb tries to explain computer shutdown (1/11)
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)
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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)
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