Reagan Holds Firm on Meese’s Position

President Reagan said Friday that Edwin Meese III should remain at the Justice Department and that the embattled attorney general has not offered to resign because of the legal controversy surrounding him.

Asked by reporters at the White House whether Meese should resign, Reagan said, “No.”

Asked whether Meese has offered to step down, Reagan said, “No.” Reporters then asked whether the Justice Department is functioning well in light of the continuing controversy surrounding Meese. Reagan said, “Just fine.”

The President made the remarks to reporters after a brief speech to the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Explain Resignations

Earlier Friday, White House Chief of Staff Howard H. Baker Jr. said Reagan has “expressed his continuing confidence” in Meese in the wake of a private meeting between Reagan and two top Justice Department officials who quit in protest.

Deputy Atty. Gen. Arnold Burns and William Weld, former chief of the criminal division, met with Reagan on Wednesday to explain why they abruptly resigned March 29.

Meese visited the White House in the morning, but sources said the visit was unrelated to his mounting troubles. The White House press office declined comment on the visit.

Meese, meanwhile, said in an interview published Friday that he knows of no “factor right now” that would cause him to resign.

Not a Liability

Meese also said in the interview conducted Thursday and published in Friday’s USA Today that he is not a liability to Vice President George Bush’s presidential bid. He said he has Reagan’s “total support” and denied that there is a morale problem at the Justice Department.

“I don’t think I’m tainted,” Meese said. “I feel that there have been false accusations and false charges.”

Asked in the interview if he rules out resignation, Meese said, “I don’t know of any factor right now that would cause me to resign.”