The Nation - News from April 15, 1988

A federal grand jury questioned members of the Bender family, which arranged to pay the wife of Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III while leasing office space to the Justice Department. The panel, under the direction of independent counsel James C. McKay, is investigating whether Meese has violated federal law through any conflict between his personal financial interests and his government duties. Accompanied by his attorney, real estate developer Howard M. Bender spent more than three hours behind closed doors with the jury. Meanwhile, trustees of the Multiple Sclerosis Society said that they never voted on the plan to hire Ursula Meese at $40,000 a year with money donated by the Bender family foundation. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that a partner ship headed by Howard Bender won a $50-million lease on Justice Department offices.