Judicial Order Clears Way for North to Testify

A federal judge signed an order today granting limited immunity from prosecution to Lt. Col. Oliver L. North, clearing the way for congressional investigators to question him later this week about his role in the Iran- contra scandal.

A spokeswoman for U.S. District Judge Aubrey E. Robinson said the order was signed this morning by U.S. District Judge Louis F. Oberdorfer, who is acting chief judge while Robinson is on vacation.

Congressional sources said North, who was voted limited immunity from prosecution by the congressional Iran- contra committees, will be questioned in a “tightly held” procedure by investigators on the committees. The interview will probably occur Thursday.

Committee investigators also plan a second private session this week with North’s former boss, John M. Poindexter, who also has been granted limited immunity and met once with investigators last month, according to sources.

Public Hearing Uncertain

Poindexter is expected to testify in public in mid-July, but whether North will appear in public remains up in the air.

On June 4 the congressional committees voted to grant limited immunity to North over the objections of special prosecutor Lawrence B. Walsh, who is trying to put together a criminal case against North.

Under the procedure, the panels agreed not to take a private sworn deposition from North before June 15 and not make him a public witness before July 16.

A small group of interrogators will question North privately and keep the contents of his statements secret.

The committees will vote again in mid-July on whether to order North to testify publicly before the panels.

Meese Interview

North last spoke to investigators the weekend before the Iran-contra scandal was disclosed last November, when he was interviewed by Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III, who found the so-called diversion memo that outlined the plan to divert funds to the Nicaraguan rebels.

To date, North has remained silent and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against incrimination in refusing to testify before various investigative bodies.