Rethinking The Retrial?

By SOPHFRONIA SCOTT GREGORY

The Iran-Contra trial of the CIA's Clair George ended in a hung jury last month, but independent counsel LAWRENCE WALSH was on the case, immediately requesting a retrial; one was set for Oct. 19. Now it seems Walsh is having second thoughts about that decision. Reportedly shocked over his failure to get a majority of the jury to convict on even one of the nine counts George is charged with, Walsh is consulting top legal eagles on whether to proceed. He's already feeling the heat from George supporters attacking the idea of another wasteful million-dollar trial. Besides, a second unsuccessful trial could undercut his last major effort, the trial of former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger, which begins Jan. 5.