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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2001

A federal judge has cited an additional contempt charge for Secretary of Interior Gale Norton for "making false and misleading representations, starting in March 2000, regarding computer security of IIM trust data."

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth's action came during a hearing held today in federal court. He made the charge after receiving a blistering report which detailed numerous security vulnerabilities to the trust assets of 300,000 American Indians.

The charge also comes after Lamberth ordered the Department of Interior to cut Internet service to all computers and systems with access to individual Indian trust data. Until the government can prove it has put basic security measures in place -- such as firewalls and intrusion detection devices -- the network must remain shut down, he ordered last night.

According to Keith Harper, a Native American Rights Fund attorney representing the Indian beneficiaries, the new charge all but guarantees Norton and Assistant Secretary will be held in contempt.

"The shame of this all is that they have had literally years to deal with this problem and they haven't dealt with it," he said. "It is just absurd that you would have such a serious problem that would compel any outside observer to say, 'Of course you need to change this.''"

"How is that not a fraud?"

A contempt trial to address these and other allegations of misconduct will begin on Monday at 10 a.m. Harper said more than 20 witnesses are expected to be called.

Get the Order:
SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE (12/6)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Judge orders Interior to cut Internet access (12/6)
Norton delaying trust fund report (12/6)
Judge holding hearing today (12/6)
Transcript of Dec. 5 trust fund hearing (12/6)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://indiantrust.doi.gov
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

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