Oh My!!!!!Gale Norton at centre of corruption inquiry over oil-shale awards to Shell

[malaise]

This is HUGE!!!!
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/arti...
<snip>
Gale Norton, a senior member of President Bush’s Cabinet, is the focus of a corruption investigation over her support of oil-shale exploration by Royal Dutch Shell, her current employer.

The US Department of Justice is examining Ms Norton’s role in the award of three leases on federal land in Colorado for oil-shale development to Shell. The lawyer, who provoked the fury of environmentalists for rolling back regulation that prevented oil and gas development on state land, resigned as Interior Secretary in March 2006.

Only weeks after the Bureau of Land Management awarded the leases to Shell in December 2006, the first oil-shale rights granted in America for three decades, the company hired Ms Norton as general counsel for its unconventional-resources unit, the business that develops oil shale.

Shell confirmed yesterday that it was aware of the Department of Justice investigation, but declined to comment further.
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The inquiry’s main focus, according to US reports, is whether Ms Norton discussed employment with a private company. Public officials are barred from such discussions if their actions could benefit a company. The investigation will also look into a wider offence of violating public trust by steering government business to friends.
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Thanks Rachel

[ddeclue]

1. Come on BushCo!! Leave the Harding Administration SOMETHING!

Now you're gonna take away the Teapot Dome scandal from them too and push them out of the Presidential basement?

[eleny]

3. Well, Harding had colorful characters, including himself

But give it time!

[virgdem]

2. I'm shocked, shocked I tell you...

who couldn't see this one coming from a mile away. This is the same woman who invited Robert Redford to a showing of the movie Three Days of the Condor, thinking that it was a movie about wildlife. Hoo boy!!!

[FiveGoodMen]

5. Wow, she must have been REALLY uncomfortable when Cliff Robertson explained it all at the end!

WAY too close to home!

[aquart]

4. Call me when there's an indictment.

I still get excited about indictments.

[dhpgetsit]

6. Par for the course in the Bush Administration,

It's so not surprising to me.

[gratuitous]

7. Gosh, I hope AG Holder decides not to turn this into a partisan witch hunt

You know that's all the Republicans will be squealing about. And besides, what's so suspicious about Ms. Norton resigning in March, Shell getting the leases in December, and then hiring Ms. Norton a few weeks later? Total coincidence, I tells ya.

[malaise]

9. Of course

Funny how this isn't getting airplay of M$Greedia.

[opihimoimoi]

8. Bushies Legacy really is rocking of late....and its all been BAD