Poindexter Trial Judge Urged to Bar Public at Reagan Taping

Former President Ronald Reagan, the Justice Department and Iran-Contra independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh joined forces Tuesday to urge a federal judge to bar the press and public from the Los Angeles courtroom where Reagan is scheduled to give videotaped testimony Friday.

Reagan was called as a defense witness by former White House National Security Adviser John M. Poindexter. A lawyer for Poindexter argued that the taping session should be open to the public, but only if U.S. District Judge Harold H. Greene delays Reagan’s testimony until the prosecution completes its case, something the judge flatly refused to do Monday.

Seven news organizations, including The Times, asked the judge to open the taping, which will be the first time Reagan has been questioned about the Iran-Contra affair under oath and in a courtroom. The news organizations have until noon today to respond to the briefs filed Tuesday.

During a hearing Monday, Greene made it clear that he was unlikely to open the taping, although he promised to “keep an open mind to the extent I can.”

Poindexter, facing five felony counts in connection with the secret sale of arms to Iran and the diversion of some of the profits to the Contras in Nicaragua, hopes to show that his actions were authorized by the former President.