Wright Makes Brief L.A. Tour, Discusses Pentagon Fraud Case

House Speaker Jim Wright, making a quick tour through Los Angeles, expressed doubt Saturday that any congressmen would be implicated in the sweeping FBI investigation of defense-contracting, which some insiders suggest could become the biggest defense scandal in the nation’s history.

The Texas Democrat also criticized investigators for apparently leaking the names of congressmen under scrutiny for their possible participation in the alleged bribery and fraud.

Two Being Investigated

Law enforcement sources have confirmed that two Democratic representatives, Bill Chappell Jr. of Florida, chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, and Roy Dyson of Maryland, a House Armed Services Committee member, are being investigated. The FBI also is checking the activities of the late Rep. Joseph P. Addabbo (D-N.Y.) who died in 1986, the sources said.

“I can’t imagine in any sense that they would be implicated,” Wright said of the congressmen during his tour, which included a luncheon at a Downey defense contracting firm and an appearance at Mayor Tom Bradley’s annual prayer breakfast.

Wright said Pentagon employees, not congressmen sitting on a defense-related committee, would have access to secret documents.

“I cannot imagine that the committee would have access to information of the type that would be particularly beneficial to contractors, except perhaps the knowledge of how much money was budgeted for given projects,” he said.

The House ethics committee is exploring whether Wright used his position on several occasions to enrich himself and Texas acquaintances, but the Speaker dodged questions about his own legal difficulties. He cut off a brief interview when asked whether Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, the likely Democratic presidential nominee, could be hurt by the investigations of himself and the two Democratic congressmen.

“No. No. Of course not,” he said.

At Bradley’s prayer breakfast, Wright did not allude to his legal problems but emphasized the virtue of forgiveness. Jesus Christ, Wright said, told his believers: “You are forgiven, now w1752768612forgive yourself and forgive others because God who is perfect forgives those who are imperfect.”

Bradley told those attending the breakfast at the Airport Hilton that he treasures Wright’s friendship. “We came not to judge or praise political leaders,” he said. “We came to pray for them.”