The Nation - News from April 6, 1989

A federal judge rejected a request by attorneys for Oliver L. North to show jurors about three hours of videotaped testimony by John M. Poindexter, North’s former boss, during congressional hearings into the Iran-Contra scandal in 1987. Poindexter, a retired admiral and former White House national security adviser, is due to be tried on criminal charges after North’s own trial concludes. He has advised North he would cite his constitutional protections against self-incrimination if called as a witness. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell said the videotape selected by the defense “distorts the record from the congressional proceedings.” In his testimony, Poindexter assumed responsibility for the diversion of funds to the Nicaraguan Contras and said he never told former President Ronald Reagan about it.