Two Iran-Contra Counts Against George Dropped

A federal judge on Tuesday dropped two of the nine criminal counts against Clair E. George, the former chief of CIA covert operations who faces a retrial next week in an Iran-Contra case.

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth acted on a motion by prosecutors working for independent counsel Lawrence E. Walsh. The prosecution said it wants to streamline the evidence when the trial begins Monday with jury selection.

George’s first trial ended in a mistrial in August after 19 days of testimony and six days of jury deliberations. The defendant is the highest-ranking CIA official to go on trial for actions related to his job.

The former spy chief originally was charged with covering up White House aide Oliver L. North’s secret Contra resupply network and concealing his knowledge of the Ronald Reagan White House’s arms sales to Iran.

Lamberth dropped two counts that charged George with obstructing Congress. The counts accused him of directing a subordinate, former CIA operative Alan D. Fiers, to keep information from congressional committees at two 1986 hearings.

Fiers is expected to be the chief prosecution witness against George, as he was in the first trial.

George, who has pleaded not guilty, remains charged with four counts of false statements, two perjury counts and one count of obstructing the grand jury. Each count in the indictment carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Walsh announced last month that he is ending his 5 1/2-year investigation of the Iran-Contra scandal, saying he anticipates no more indictments. But after the George case, two Iran-Contra trials are pending: one against former Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger and the other involving former CIA official Duane (Dewey) Clarridge.