Government investigators have cleared Bill Myers, the Department of Interior's former top lawyer, of alleged ethical lapses, the Associated Press reports.

The AP said it obtained documents related to two separate investigations of Bill Myers. One was conducted by the Interior's Inspector General and the other was conducted by the Office of Government Ethics, an independent federal agency. Investigators said he did not violate his ethics agreements by meeting with former clients from the mining, cattle and grazing industry.

Myers stepped down from his post in November. He is awaiting Senate action on his nomination to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears a large number of cases affecting American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) oppose his nomination.

Get the Story:
Reviews determine that Interior lawyer acted to avoid conflicts, not unethically (AP 1/11)

Relevant Documents:
NCAI Resolution | Environmental Group's Letter | Holland & Hart Biography

Indianz.Com Profile:
Industry insider named to Interior (March 30, 2001)

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Myers reversing sacred site opinion (10/25)
Bush nominee has no 'agenda' on Clinton decisions (6/21)

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