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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2002

The Indian trust system is broken and it doesn't matter if the loses are in the millions or billions, The Sioux Falls Argus Leader writes in an editorial today.

"The trust fund is a mess," the paper says. "No one disputes that."

The paper responds to a report filed in a court case fighting for the rights of 500,000 American Indians. The Department of Justice alleges that the lead plaintiffs aren't owed as much money as claimed.

DOJ paid $20 million to collect documents belonging to the lead plaintiffs. Accounting firm Ernst & Young was paid to look at the records but didn't sign off on the report and didn't certify it as an accounting.

Former Special Trustee Tom Slonaker didn't certify the report either, as required by law. He was ousted by the Bush administration last month.

Get the Story:
Editorial: Trust fund: It's the mess that matters (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 8/28)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

Related Stories:
Cobell: Send Gale Norton to jail (8/23)
Cobell rallies support in Okla. (8/22)
Norton tries to delay trust fund (8/21)
Trust fund plaintiffs get ruling (8/16)
U.S. argues limits as trustee (8/9)
Interior avoids admission of trust standards (7/24)
Griles slammed for ignorance (7/12)
Trust fund class action sees support (7/3)
Griles can't explain trust standards (6/27)