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THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2003

Special trustee Ross Swimmer is finally off the stand in the Cobell trust fund trial, having endured six days of testimony in federal court in Washington, D.C.

Swimmer first went before U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth last Wednesday. He was questioned by a Department of Justice attorney that afternoon

The following morning, Keith Harper of the Native American Rights Fund started his cross-examination. It ran until Tuesday afternoon but Swimmer was kept on the stand all day yesterday to handle additional questions by the Department of Justice. Lamberth had some inquiries as well.

Swimmer's testimony covered a wide range of topics, from the Bush administration's trust reform plans to his tenure as assistant secretary for Indian affairs during the Reagan administration to his handling of a $550,000 loan involving Cherokee Nation funds.

The trial continues today with rebuttal testimony from Dwight Duncan, an expert for the plaintiffs.

The trial is set to wrap up early next week, just in time for a House Resources Committee July 9. Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) called the hearing to address settlement of the case. He also said a rider contained in the Department of Interior's fiscal year 2004 appropriations bill that forces a settlement should be defeated.

Relevant Links:
Office of Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov
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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