It's Friday. This story broke in the Denver Post, not the Washington Post, nor the Washington Times, nor the NYT...none of whom in fact had even a mention this story when I just looked, 40 minutes after the DPost and after even CNN had it on a scroll/breaking news bit.

Gale Norton Steps Down as Interior Secretary.

Two interesting sidebars very early in this matter: ThinkProgress headlines it as "Another Abramoff Casualty?"

UPDATE:WaPo has an AP story up on this now, containing this interesting tidbit:

In 1996 she sought the Republican Senate nomination in Colorado but was defeated by Wayne Allard, who now holds the seat. Later she cofounded the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, a group that has become embroiled in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.

And from just yesterday, we find the names of both Ms. Norton and her No. 1 Evil Henchman Deputy David Cohen, prominently featured in this puff piece from none other than the Virgin Islands Daily News:

Representatives from a dozen companies are in the territory this week exploring investment opportunities. Accompanying them are U.S. Interior Department Deputy Secretary P. Lynn Scarlett and U.S. Interior Department Deputy Assistant Secretary David Cohen.

Of course, the key benefit the Virgin Islands has to offer is its unique tax incentive program through the V.I. Economic Development Commission. These incentives are not available anywhere else under the U.S. flag. The EDC was designed to encourage new businesses in the territory and foster and sustain their growth through tax breaks and other incentives. The businesses create good jobs for local residents and become a part of the territory's corporate citizenry.

The EDC and its predecessor, the Industrial Development Commission, have been in existence for decades. However, EDC and IDC leadership never marketed the programs effectively and few businesses were aware of the advantages available under the tax incentive program.

Thanks to the U.S. Interior Department - especially Interior Secretary Gale Norton - the message is getting delivered to a wide range of businesses, from national Fortune 100 companies to smaller financial services and contracting companies, both U.S. and foreign.

Methinks Think Progress may be onto something here. Off to check Josh Marshall, as I think much muck is availble for a-raking here. Heh heh heh..

UPDATE The Council for Republican Environmental Advocacy is indeed an Abramoff slush fund. Also, check Wampum for all things Abramoff and Interior related.--Lambert

UPDATE SOME MORE:

WaPo, Page E13, on a Saturday in July '04

Interior Department Funds Torture Training Center Via Contractor "CACI". Inspector General not amused.

"No 30" as they say in the newspaper biz, or used to. There will be more to come on this one.