Meese Says He Can Handle Job and Private Life

Edwin Meese III, whose financial problems led to the appointment of a special prosecutor, told a Senate committee today that he can now manage his personal life and the job of attorney general.

Meese, in his second day of testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, was asked about the circumstances that led to a variety of financial difficulties he had when he first came to Washington in 1981.

Meese said he would be “considerably less busy” as attorney general than he was in the first few months when he got to Washington and was trying to move his family and household goods from California and get settled.

“I will be able to handle my job as attorney general and maintain my personal affairs too,” he said.

Changed the Records

Meese was also questioned about $10,000 he received from the Presidential Transition Fund in 1980 for moving expenses. When he was advised by White House counsel that it was illegal to take the money as moving expenses, he had the records changed to show he got the money as a consulting fee.

When asked whether he would be more careful today to separate the consulting fee from moving expenses, Meese said, “Perhaps today I would go through that rigmarole to avoid even Common Cause (a citizens’ lobby group) questioning anything.”

Meese, 53, now President Reagan’s White House counselor, was first nominated to lead the Justice Department a year ago, but Senate hearings were suspended last spring while a special prosecutor investigated Meese. The inquiry found no reason to bring criminal charges against the former California prosecutor.

Sen. Howard M. Metzenbaum (D-Ohio) told reporters that Judiciary Committee Chairman Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) and Democrats on the panel have agreed to hold a vote on the Meese nomination Tuesday. Metzenbaum, Meese’s most prominent opponent, said testimony will continue Thursday and possibly Friday.

In testimony this morning, Meese tried to explain his dealings with accountant John McKean, who loaned him $60,000 and then got a federal job, and Thomas J. Barrack, who arranged the sale of Meese’s house and was hired at the Interior Department.

Meese said neither was given a job as a result of the financial deals, and he cited the conclusions of special prosecutor Jacob Stein and other reviews that absolved Meese of criminal wrongdoing in connection with either transaction.