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JANUARY 23, 2001

The Department of Justice on Monday told Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) it plans no action against private landowners affected by Iand claims in New York.

In response, Schumer said the government must work to "fight the wrongs done to Native Americans" but targeted the landowners unfairly. The Department and the Oneida Nation at one point tried to add 20,000 landowners to the tribe's lawsuit but were denied by a federal judge.

Schumer is a member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, who is considering John Ashcroft to head the Department. Although Schumer has raised several concerns about Ashcroft, he didn't immediately question him on his position on pursuing land claims during Senate hearings last week.

Schumer is also a member of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. In hearings for Secretary of Interior nominee Gale Norton, Schumer did not directly question her on tribal issues.

Get the Story:
Schumer says justice department to leave landowners alone (AP 1/22)