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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2002

Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles said yesterday he hoped his recent court testimony will help convince a federal judge not to sanction his boss for her handling of the assets of 300,000 American Indians.

"It is my sincere hope and desire that . . . he will not find that unnecessary cause of action that he thinks he needs to take," Griles told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Griles said that during his testimony, which took place Wednesday and Thursday last week, he spoke "at length" with U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth. Among the issues discussed was Secretary Gale Norton's proposed reorganization.

Griles acknowledged there is enormous tribal opposition to the creation of the Bureau of Indian Trust Assets Management (BITAM). But he also said there was progress being made to come to a solution.

Hoping to counter the argument, attorneys representing the Indian beneficiaries hope Norton today will shed more light on the consultation process. The plaintiffs also want to call National Congress of American Indians President Tex Hall to offer rebuttal.

Norton is set to take the stand today at 10 a.m.

Today on Indianz.Com:
Griles gets grilled by Congress (2/13)
Interior changes mind on payments (2/13)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://130.94.214.68/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

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