The Nation - News from June 28, 1988

President Reagan reiterated his faith in the innocence of former aides Oliver L. North and John M. Poindexter and said he expects they would be exonerated if tried. During a photo session with Turkey’s president, Gen. Kenan Evren, Reagan was asked if he favored speeding up the declassification of documents considered necessary for the trials of North and Poindexter. “Well, I hope that we could,” he replied. “I believe in the innocence of the two men and I would like to see that established once and for all.” The White House had said last week that it favored legal proceedings in the Iran-Contra case going forward. Reagan has refused to say whether he would grant pardons to North and Poindexter.