American Notes TRIALS

No one can accuse Iran-contra special prosecutor Lawrence Walsh of lacking perseverance. Last week Walsh petitioned a federal appeals court to reconsider its decision to set aside the conviction of Oliver North on the grounds that the evidence might have been tainted by his televised testimony to Congress. If the earlier ruling stands, it could jeopardize the conviction of former National Security Adviser John Poindexter.

At the same time, Walsh was busy preparing opening arguments in the trial of Thomas Clines. The former CIA official faces charges of tax evasion in connection with his role as a middleman in the illegal sales of arms to Iran. In 1985 and 1986, the government alleges, he made $882,000 in commissions; he stuffed some into a Swiss bank account and neglected to report the complete amount to the taxman. Walsh's first witness was Clines' business partner, retired Air Force Major General Richard Secord, who pleaded guilty last November to lying to Congress.