Fast Trials Needed to Clear North, Poindexter: Reagan

President Reagan said today he wants to see trials in the Iran-Contra scandal move forward as soon as possible to see the innocence of former aides John M. Poindexter and Oliver L. North “established once and for all.”

Speaking to reporters during an Oval Office photo session with Turkish President Kenan Evren, Reagan reinforced a pledge made last week by the White House to cooperate in procedures standing in the way of the trials.

At the same time, however, Reagan did not specifically promise that the time-consuming review of some 150,000 pages of classified documents presented as evidence--a major obstacle to taking the case to trial--would be expedited.

“I would hope that we could,” he said. “I believe in the innocence of the two men and I would like to see it established once and for all.”

Reagan has taken repeated opportunities over the last year to voice confidence in the innocence of Poindexter and North, indicted along with two other men on charges related to the diversion of funds to the Nicaraguan Contra rebels from secret arms sales to Iran.

Though convinced that no laws were broken, Reagan has also appeared to put off the question of possible pardons for the two men, saying he wants to see the legal process completed before any such decisions are considered.

U.S. District Judge Gerhard Gesell has ordered separate trials for the four co-defendants, overruling a request by independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh, who has designated North as the first to be tried.