The Nation - News from June 7, 1988

A former Wedtech official, testifying in the bribery trial in New York of Rep. Mario Biaggi (D-N.Y.), said he was told by a friend of Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III that President Reagan had asked about the company. The government contends Wedtech rose from a small machine shop to a major defense contractor through the illegal lobbying efforts of Biaggi and others. Anthony Guariglia, 37, an accountant who became president of the company and was testifying for the government, said he was told of Reagan’s interest by E. Robert Wallach, Meese’s personal friend and attorney who is under indictment in a separate Wedtech case. Guariglia gave the testimony under cross-examination by James M. LaRossa, attorney for Biaggi, who is on trial with six others. No time frame was given for Wallach’s remarks. A White House spokesman declined to comment on the court proceedings.