Trust
Lamberth holds hearing on contempt allegations


U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth is holding a hearing this morning on contempt allegations pending against former Interior secretary Bruce Babbitt and dozens of other past and present government officials.

The plaintiffs in the Cobell v. Norton lawsuit accuse the group of destroying trust records in violation of court orders. The matter had been on hold for over two years until the U.S. Supreme Court last week refused to hear a request to take Lamberth off the case.

The hearing takes place at 10am in the federal district court in Washington, D.C.

Court Orders:
Historical Accounting | Contempt Proceedings

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

Related Stories:
Lamberth takes action on Cobell trust lawsuit (2/24)
Contempt proceedings urged on records destruction (2/24)
Bush official won't accept claims of trust mismanagement (02/17)
Norton urged by Judge Lamberth to testify on trust (2/9)
Appeals court won't hold back Lamberth on trust reform (12/13)
Appeals court supports Lamberth's authority on IT (12/06)
Lamberth critical of Norton's 'bad faith' on trust fund (10/25)
Lamberth finds evidence of more record destruction (09/10)
Bush administration challenges trust fund ruling (09/16)
Appeals court takes on Cobell trust fund case (9/15)
Appeals court blocks release of contempt reports (09/15)
Lamberth exchanges harsh words with Cobell critic (08/02)
Bush administration calls for end to Cobell case (04/09)
Cobell trust fund suit mediators announced (4/6)
DOI's Internet connection shut down for third time (03/16)
Lamberth defends special master against attack (03/16)
Anderson praises Cobell suit in NCAI speech (2/25)
Tribes still frustrated on trust reform (11/20)
Bush officials blasted by tribal leaders (11/19)
Cobell plaintiffs disputing trust fund rider (11/17)
Daschle criticizes 'shameful' rider in DOI budget bill (11/04)
Norton welcomes time-out in Cobell trust fund case (11/4)
Court report blasts McCaleb for destroying records (01/27)
Court: McCaleb 'fabricated' e-mail story (1/24)
BIA aides circumventing court (12/16)
Martin's role in incident surfaces (12/16)
BIA aides e-mail use prompts inquiry (12/17)
McCaleb admits to e-mail 'misunderstanding' (10/23)
Probe raises more questions than answers (08/07)
DOI investigation released (8/7)
No one to punish for destroyed e-mails (4/10)
More sanctions expected on trust fund (4/4)
Interior cited for destroyed e-mails (7/30)