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FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2002

The plaintiffs in the Individual Indian Money (IIM) class action have asked a federal judge to hold Secretary of Interior Gale Norton and her attorneys in contempt for the destruction of e-mail documents against court orders.

The plaintiffs cite a more than five-year history of destruction at the hands of the government and its attorneys, as well as an attempt to cover up the situation. Special master Alan Balaran has already recommended Norton be held in contempt based on an investigation he conducted.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth earlier this month asked the plaintiffs to document their grievances against the government in order to speed up potential contempt trials for nearly 50 past and present officials and attorneys. He did so because Deputy Secretary J. Steven Griles complained that his employees were being held hostage with contempt sanctions looming over their heads.

Related Documents:
Motion for Contempt | Factual Statement | Balaran: Destroyed computer backups (7/27) | Interior cited for destroyed e-mails (7/30)

Get the Story:
Plaintiffs Seek Sanctions Against Interior Secretary (AP 3/22)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust, Department of Interior - http://www.doi.gov/indiantrust
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Trust Reform, NCAI - http://130.94.214.68/main/pages/
issues/other_issues/trust_reform.asp

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