Teamsters’ Presser Seeks Trial Delay, Says He’s Too Ill to Testify

Teamsters Union President Jackie Presser has suffered two relapses after therapy treatments for lung cancer and is too ill to stand trial next month, his attorney told a federal court Thursday.

Defense attorney John R. Climaco, who is the union’s general counsel, asked U.S. District Judge George W. White to grant an indefinite delay in Presser’s Feb. 15 trial on charges of larceny and racketeering.

Presser and two union associates are charged with misspending $700,000 from the treasury of Cleveland Teamsters Local 507 to keep at least three non-working “ghost employees” on the union payroll for several years.

Called ‘Cancer Free’

In a court filing, Climaco reiterated that the 61-year-old Teamsters’ chieftain is “cancer free” following months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments after surgeons removed a malignant tumor from his lung on Jan. 13, 1987.

But because of two relapses in recent months, both requiring hospitalization, “defendant Presser is physically unable to assist in the pretrial preparation of his defense,” Climaco said. “Furthermore, he will not be mentally or physically able to stand trial on Feb. 15.”

White took the motion under advisement. He is expected to withhold a ruling until Justice Department prosecutors have an opportunity to express their views.

Chief prosecutor Stephen H. Jigger refused to comment Thursday.

Last July, White granted a six-month postponement in Presser’s trial--then scheduled for Aug. 10--after Climaco filed reports under seal saying that Presser was weakened by continuing radiation treatments.

Rumors of Retirement

Climaco has repeatedly denied rumors that Presser is relinquishing his Teamsters duties or is stepping down as head of the 1.7-million member union, the nation’s largest.

He said Presser is continuing to run the Teamsters from a hideaway near Phoenix, where his doctors have ordered him to “rest and recuperate.”

Climaco told the court that after completing more than two months of daily radiation treatments last October, Presser “became seriously ill” and was hospitalized for seven days at the Cleveland Clinic.

However, after moving to “a warm and dry climate in order to properly recuperate . . . his condition worsened,” Climaco said.

As a result, Presser was hospitalized again for 13 days in Phoenix, the attorney said.

Acute Respiratory Failure

He said Presser was diagnosed as suffering from acute respiratory failure, pneumonia and a bacterial infection.

He remains “in a weakened condition” and “except for brief returns to Washington and Cleveland . . . his activities are limited,” Climaco said.

Presser’s lawyers have said they will defend their client at trial on grounds that he kept some Mafia-related employees on the Teamsters’ payroll with the acquiescence of the FBI. Presser served as a secret informant for the FBI for more than 10 years.