The Nation - News from March 15, 1988

Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham’s lawyer accused a state agency of intimidating defense witnesses as he moved for a mistrial or dismissal of charges at the governor’s impeachment trial. Arizona Supreme Court Justice Frank X. Gordon, who is presiding over the impeachment trial in Phoenix, said he would rule today on attorney Fred Craft’s motion. Prosecutors asked for sanctions against Craft for trying the case in the news media with a weekend news conference. Craft held the news conference to protest the arrest Friday of defense witness Terri Fields. She had testified Thursday. Department of Public Safety officers arrested Fields on a January warrant charging that she failed to attend court-ordered alcoholics counseling after a conviction for driving while intoxicated. She was released on bond. DPS officials denied that the arrest was an attempt to intimidate witnesses.