http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/feds_probing_gail_norton_for_corruption_lat.php

In January 2006, Norton's Interior Department awarded three oil shale leases on federal land in Colorado -- potentially worth hundreds of billions -- to a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell. Two months later, Norton resigned, saying she had no job lined up. But later that year, she was hired by Shell as in-house counsel.

The Feds are said to be looking at whether Norton broke either of two laws: One which prohibits federal employees from discussing employment with a company while that company is involved in dealings with the government that could benefit it; and a second, the "denial of honest services" law, which makes it a crime for a government official to "violate the public trust" by, for instance, giving contracts to friends or associates.

"If [Norton] had feelers out, or was in discussions with Shell in any way, she is absolutely forbidden from participating in any way from doing anything with Shell," a law enforcement official told the LA Times.

And I thought she was carrying out the lessons she learned from James Watts about taking care of the earth for Jesus.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Funny, all this talk about Obama's tyranny and most memories are too short to recall the corruption of Interior under Norton and Dubya. Stephen Griles, longtime coal industry lobbyist was given the fox over the hen house position.

Early on, Norton tried to trade the prestige of her office for some face time with Robert Redford who she invited to some meeting, conference, I forget.

Redford responded that he had no interest in dignifying her agenda, and then went on to pin her ears back further.

James Watts' protégé. Not surprising.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K