U.S. Congress tries to find ‘mole’

Press, 2 July 1983, Page 11

U.S. Congress tries to find ‘mole’

NZPA Washington The United States Congress has begun a formal inquiry into the hundreds of confidential papers that found their way from Jimmy Carter’s side to Ronald Reagan’s team during the 1980 Presidential election campaign. Its aim: To uncover the “mole” on the Carter team; to find out whether any illegal acts were committed; to discover whether any classified documents were among the material turned over. Donald Albosta, a Democrat from Michigan who heads the previously obscure Post Office and Civil Service sub-committee on human resources, told a press conference that he would not hesitate to subpoena Administration officials to testify under oath if he thinks it necessary. The papers were used by David Stockman, now director of the office of management and budget, to prepare for his role as Mr Carter in rehearsals with Mr Reagan

for a crucial television debate. Walter Mondale, Mr Carter’s Vice-President and a leading Presidential contender for 1984, has called the affair “a dirty business” and the Democratic Party chairman, Mr Charles Manatt, is calling for a special prosecutor to be appointed, saying that “very, very sensitive” national security papers may have been among the material handed over. William Safire, a respected Washington journallist who writes for the “New York Times,” said in a column: “The moment of truth for Mr Reagan is right now. If he follows the Nixon trail, he will refuse to believe his aides could have been so stupid, and will hang tough—if he remembers Eisenhower, he will forget political loyalty and make certain that no hint of scandal touches him. High aides are expendable—the prestige of the Presidency must not be expended.”