Special Trustee Ross Swimmer says the Cobell Indian trust fund lawsuit is not about past mismanagement.

Swimmer and other Bush administration officials contend the case is about accounting of the Individual Indian Money (IIM) fund. They say they don't have to verify whether account holders were paid the right amounts for use of their land.

For the descendants of Moses Bruno, a Citizen Potawatomi, mismanagement is the key issue. They cite records showing almost $70 million in oil was produced on his land yet he died penniless.

Swimmer says the Interior Department is working to prevent these situations in the future. He says the "to-be" effort will create a better management system.

Get the Story:
Swimmer tries to fix Indian trust system (The Oklahoman 11/21)
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Family wants answers to landowner's plight (The Oklahoman 11/21)
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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

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