Judge puts Norton on the spot again

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- A judge has put Interior Secretary Gale Norton on the spot again in the court fight over American Indian trust funds that has gone on for nearly a decade.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth wants Norton to appear in court to answer allegations from Indian lawyers that she "retaliated" against trust beneficiaries last year by withholding payments.

It's the latest chapter in a lawsuit filed in 1996 by Indians who allege the federal government mishandled billions of dollars in royalties from Indian-owned lands.

Indian attorneys contend Norton "retaliated" when Lamberth told the Bureau of Indian Affairs to halt an auction of Indian land in Oklahoma because the owners were not fully informed of how it related to issues in the lawsuit.

Dan DuBray, a spokesman for Norton, said the secretary would reply to the judge through the court. He said Norton did not order a halt to payments and he denied there was any disruption in the flow of checks.