Ethics scandal didn't prompt resignation, Norton says (yeah, right, Gale)

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON — Gale Norton, who resigned as Interior Department secretary Friday, leaves amid a burgeoning ethics scandal that has touched the agency as federal investigators eye links between her former deputy, Steven Griles, and disgraced former Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Norton, who turns 52 today, said the investigations were unrelated to her decision to leave, which she said was personal. Her resignation letter was dated Thursday and her exit is effective at month's end, but she said administration officials have known for some time that she was planning to leave.

She said she remained after last year's Gulf Coast hurricanes crippled the region's oil business and sparked nationwide shortages. "Really, I might have made the decision to leave earlier had it not been for things like the hurricanes last year that took so much of our time and effort," she said.

"I look forward to visiting a national park and not holding a press conference in there," said Norton, who served at Interior longer than all but six predecessors

more...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002858214_norton11.html

[yellowcanine]

1. She resigned to spend more time with mountains, dontcha know?