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03/11/2006:

"Norton to End 5-Year Tenure at Interior"

Gale A. Norton, who as secretary of the interior reopened Yellowstone National Park to snowmobiles and pushed for greater energy development on public land, announced yesterday that she will relinquish her post by the end of the month.

Norton won plaudits from business leaders but earned the enmity of many environmentalists during her often contentious five-year tenure. She said she has no immediate plans but expects to work in the private sector and spend more time in the West.

"I look forward to visiting a national park and not holding a press conference in there," said Norton, who turns 52 today and has served at the Interior Department longer than all but six of her predecessors. "I look forward to being able to contemplate the wilderness without having reporters and their notebooks following me."

Norton's resignation comes as a federal criminal task force continues to investigate former GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff's dealings with her department. The task force is examining, among other issues, former deputy secretary J. Steven Griles's discussions with Abramoff at a time when the lobbyist was seeking departmental actions on behalf of his tribal clients. Abramoff has pleaded guilty to federal charges of political corruption.

Norton said the probe did not play a role in her decision to step down and added later: "I want to return to having a private life again."
washingtonpost.com

A little down time before jail...