The Department of Interior denied placing the interests of energy companies above individual Indians amid charges of retaliation by a former court official for the trust fund lawsuit.

Special master Alan Balaran announced his resignation from the case in a letter made public yesterday. He said the Bush administration stepped up its campaign to have him disqualified after he discovered evidence of the undervaluing of Indian lands and the destruction of trust audit records affecting Navajo Nation landowners.

In his letter, Balaran said the energy companies might have to pay Indian beneficiaries for potentially "billions of dollars." He said top Interior officials maintain close ties to the energy industry.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth accepted Balaran's resignation in an order signed yesterday.

Balaran is an attorney based in Washington, D.C. He was assigned to the case shortly after three Clinton administration officials were held in contempt for failing to produce trust documents.

Get the Story:
Balaran Resigns From Probe Of Agency's Indian Trust Fund (The Wall Street Journal 4/7)
Interior Dept. Is Denounced (The Washington Post 4/7)
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Indian Fund Investigator Angrily Quits (The New York Times 4/7)
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Indian trust investigator resigns, criticizes Interior (The Denver Rocky Mountain News 4/7)
Official alleges Interior Department favored energy companies at Indians� expense (AP 4/7)
Good news, bad news in tribes' $175 billion suit (The Gallup Independent 4/6)

Relevant Documents:
Special Master Letter | Judge Lamberth Order

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

Related Stories:
Special master Balaran resigns from Cobell lawsuit (4/6)
Cobell trust fund suit mediators announced (4/6)
Cobell mediator Renfrew has oil tanker named after him (4/6)
Lamberth defends special master against attack (03/16)
DOI's Internet connection shut down for third time (03/16)
Appeals court hearing Cobell disqualification dispute (03/15)
Lamberth orders disclosure of computer reports (01/23)
Court report finds undervaluation of Navajo lands (08/21)
Navajo trust fund manager targeted in internal probe (07/15)
Navajo leaders criticize upheaval at trust fund office (05/09)
Memo: Solicitor's order was 'intimidating' (10/10)
Interior delaying trust reform report (9/6)