THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410060440
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: ARLINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Oliver L. North said Wednesday that opponent Sen. Charles S. Robb voted to confirm a controversial White House judicial nominee as political payment for President Clinton's fund-raising support.
The Senate voted 63-35 late Tuesday, mostly on party lines, to approve the nomination of H. Lee Sarokin to sit on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The vote followed a months-long delay and partisan debate over the New Jersey federal judge's sometimes unorthodox judicial views.
``His buddy Bill Clinton issued marching orders,'' North said of Robb. ``Chuck Robb could have, but failed, to oppose what could be one of the worst judicial appointments in history.''
In a brief exchange with reporters, North sought to avoid questions about a controversy a day earlier over North's testimony in the Iran-Contra affair.
North said Sarokin sides more often with criminals than with victims, and said Sarokin's opposition to holding some suspects in jail until trial means ``somebody like Jeffrey Dahmer would have been free for months, able to kill again.''
North said he would have joined Sen. John Warner, R-Va., in opposing Sarokin. In his 54-point campaign platform, North pledges to ``fight against the confirmation of judges who won't be tough on crime.''
Robb said he does not agree with Sarokin on all issues, but thinks the judge is qualified.
``The easy political move would have been to vote against the judge,'' Robb said. ``But I, along with most of my colleagues and the judge's colleagues, believe he is qualified to do the job.''
In nearly every speech, North paints Robb as a Clinton toady, constantly referring to Robb's near-perfect record of support for Clinton policies in Congress.
``It's clear Chuck Robb is more interested in pleasing Bill Clinton and cuddling up to the liberal extremist friends of his than he is in backing up the people of Virginia,'' North said Wednesday.
North said Robb's vote for Sarokin is ``a perfect example of political payback'' for Clinton's help in raising an estimated $500,000 for Robb at two campaign events earlier this week. ``Bill Clinton comes into Virginia for Chuck Robb and does what Bill Clinton is very good at. Bill Clinton is very good at raising money. Be it political money or your taxes, he can raise it.''
On Tuesday, North told school children he did not lie to Congress, although he has long acknowledged he was not truthful with congressional investigators prior to his 1989 trial. ``I have set that straight,'' North said Wednesday.
After speaking to the students, North conceded to reporters that he misled members of Congress and staffers investigating his role in the Iran-Contra, arms-for-hostages affair.
The former Marine lieutenant colonel and White House aide was charged with 12 crimes and acquitted of nine. He was found guilty in 1989 of destroying documents, accepting an illegal gratuity and aiding in the obstruction of Congress. An appeals court overturned the convictions, saying his trial was tainted by earlier testimony he gave Congress under immunity.
Marshall Coleman, an independent candidate, challenged his opponents to show up at a debate tentatively set for Wednesday on CNN's ``Larry King Live'' cable TV show. Coleman said he's agreed to the date. North and Robb aides say the debate schedule is still in flux.
KEYWORDS: U.S. SENATE RACE CAMPAIGN CANDIDATE by CNB