
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 31, 1990                   TAG: 9003310427
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

PROSECUTOR BLASTS TESTIMONY/ JURY TOLD TO IGNORE `BIASED' REAGAN

The prosecutor at John Poindexter's trial asked jurors in final arguments Friday to ignore former President Reagan's "biased" testimony and convict his national security adviser of Iran-Contra cover-up charges.

But Poindexter's attorney said the defendant had merely gotten caught in a political battle between Congress and the White House and had done "his ever-loving best to give as much information as he could tell" rather than conspiring to hide the affair.

Poindexter had done his job for Reagan, "the driving engine behind his actions," said defense lawyer Richard Beckler.

Prosecutor Dan K. Webb said in his summation that there was "overwhelming evidence" that Poindexter lied to Congress and destroyed documents to cover up the diversion of Iran arms sale profits to help the Nicaraguan Contra rebels when aid was banned by Congress.

Webb ridiculed the defense's decision to call Reagan as its "star witness," calling it an attempt to persuade jurors to ignore the facts.

Poindexter's attorney defended the former president's value as a witness.

The eight hours of Reagan's videotaped testimony was played for the jury last week by the defense, which rested its case Wednesday.

The case is expected to go to the jury Monday.

Beckler told jurors Friday that P oindexter, a retired Navy rear admiral, should not have to pay for the misdeeds of his former aide, Oliver L. North, who was convicted of charges last year.

"If Oliver North did something wrong, that is Oliver North's responsibility. That is not Admiral Poindexter's responsibility," said Beckler, who tried to paint North as a renegade operator in the Iran-Contra affair.

Poindexter, who served as Reagan's national security adviser from late 1985 until his resignation on Nov. 25, 1986, is also accused of deceiving Congress about White House involvement in covert assistant to the Nicaraguan rebels.

Webb recounted North's testimony that he was "generally instructed" by Poindexter to lie to lawmakers about the secret aid network.

North "was there because the defendant on trial in this case, his commander, sent him there to do that," Webb said. "The boss can't escape legal responsibility just because he didn't get his hands dirty."

by CNB