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Cobell continues fight for accounting of billions
Friday, December 19, 2003

It was a tough year in Congress and the courts but Elouise Cobell, lead plaintiff in the Indian trust fund lawsuit, doesn't plan on letting up her battle to ensure accountability for billions of dollars.

In September, a federal judge reaffirmed the right to an historical accounting of at least $13 billion in Indian funds. But in October, Congress passed a bill that puts off the court victory for at least a year.

In July, a federal appeals court threw out contempt charges against Secretary of Interior Gale Norton and former Indian affairs aide Neal McCaleb. The two had been charged with lying to a federal court about efforts to fix the broken system.

Get the Story:
No end in sight to Indian accounting problem, officials say (The Billings Gazette 12/19)

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

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