Report finds political influence by Interior official
A political appointee at the Interior Department interfered with more than a dozen Endangered Species Act decisions, according to an investigation made public on Monday.

Julie MacDonald "jeopardized" nearly every ESA decisions during her time in the Bush administration, Inspector General Earl E. Devaney said. She pursued an "agenda" that seemed to change every day and was "abetted" by other top officials, according to the report.

MacDonald resigned in May 2007 after another Inspector General report said she broke federal rules by giving internal documents to lobbyists and special interest groups, including one that opposes tribal sovereignty and treaty rights.

Get the Story:
Report Finds Interference in Interior Dept. Actions (The New York Times 12/16)

OIG Report:
Investigative Report of The Endangered Species Act and the Conflict between Science and Policy (December 2008)

Related Stories:
Interior official resigns after breaking rules (5/2)