Facebook Twitter Email
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2001

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton has hired a private lawyer to defend herself from misconduct charges stemming from her handling of the broken trust fund.

Herbert Fenster, a Boulder, Colorado-based lawyer, announced today he has made an official appearance for the secretary in federal court in Washington, D.C. According to Fenster, he will represent her at a November 30 hearing that U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth has indicated will be the start of contempt proceedings against the federal government.

Fenster has been involved in class action lawsuits before but is now on the opposite side of the fence. He is currently representing Jewish Holocaust survivors whose assets were allegedly stolen by the Austrian government.

Fenster is a partner in the law firm of McKenna & Cuneo.

The Department of Interior did not immediately return a request for comment.

Relevant Links:
McKenna & Cuneo - http://www.mckennacuneo.com
Office of the Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
Trust Management Improvement Project - http://www.doi.gov/bia/trust/tmip.htm
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com

Related Stories:
Norton told to appoint trust fund receiver (11/7)
Griles taking lead on trust reform (11/5)
Norton's defense off to a 'bad start' (11/2)
Judge ready to hold Norton in contempt (10/31)
Interior promises trust fund defense (10/31)
Judge: Norton's actions 'contemptuous' (10/30)
Trust fund defense team scrapped (10/30)
Action on Norton urged 'on all fronts' (10/29)
Norton views broken trust fund system (10/29)