Assembly GOP Leader Defends Fund Drive for Colleague’s Trial

Assembly Republican Leader Ross Johnson on Wednesday defended soliciting donations from special-interest groups to help pay the legal bills of Assemblyman John R. Lewis (R-Orange), who faces trial on a charge he forged former President Ronald Reagan’s name on legislative campaign letters.

Johnson (R-La Habra) and other top GOP assemblymen have mailed letters to special interests with a stake in pending legislation requesting $500 donations to the Lewis Defense Fund.

“Anyone who is uncomfortable about it has a simple answer--don’t contribute,” Johnson told a press conference.

Lewis was indicted last February on one felony count of forgery for his role in mailing thousands of 1986 legislative campaign letters with the phony signature of then-President Reagan. He has pleaded innocent.

The indictment was the culmination of a 15-month investigation by Democratic Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp. Johnson reiterated a GOP charge that Van de Kamp’s decision to seek the grand jury indictment made Lewis “the victim of a partisan political process . . . by an openly avowed candidate for governor.” Van de Kamp is mounting a campaign to run for the 1990 gubernatorial nomination.

Alan Ashby, a spokesman for Van de Kamp, said: “Mr. Johnson’s remarks were made for the purpose of raising money for Mr. Lewis’ defense. We initiated the prosecution of Mr. Lewis because we felt the facts merited the prosecution and for no other reason.”