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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2002

A federal judge found Secretary of Interior Gale Norton and Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb in contempt of court.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth's ruling applied to actions that have occurred at the Department of Interior since September 1999 and continuing up until December 2001. Norton and McCaleb misled the court, provided false information and failed to correct computer security holes.

Lamberth also rejected Norton's attempt to disqualify an unbiased court official. Joseph S. Kieffer III was instead elevated to a higher role with oversight of the Interior.

Get the Story:
PLAY VIDEO: Judge Comes Down 'Hard' On Interior Secretary (KPHO-TV 5 9/17)
AUDIO: Interior Secretary Norton Cited for Contempt of Court (NPR 9/17)
Judge Holds Interior Secy In Contempt; Norton May Appeal (The Wall Street Journal 9/17)
Federal Judge Holds Norton in Contempt for Failing to Fix Indian Trust (The Washington Post 9/17)
Interior officials found in contempt (Federal Computer Week 9/17)
Interior Secretary Held in Contempt (AP 9/17)
U.S. Interior Secretary Norton Held in Contempt in Indian Case (Bloomberg News 9/17)
Interior Secretary Norton Ruled in Contempt (Reuters 9/17)
Interior Secretary Held In Contempt (CBS 9/17)
Judge Holds Gale Norton in Contempt (Fox News 9/17)
Interior chief held in contempt over tribal funds (MSNBC 9/17)
Norton cited for contempt in Indian case (UPI 9/17)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Norton found in contempt for trust fund (9/17)

Get the Decision:
Contempt Findings | Contempt Order | Appointing Special Master-Monitor | Denying Motion to Revoke Court Monitor Appointment | Setting Third Contempt Trial

Relevant Documents:
DOI Statement (9/17) | House Resources Committee Chairman Jim Hansen (R-Utah) (9/17)

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
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://www.ncai.org/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

Related Stories:
Your Ultimate Guide to Contempt (9/5)