The Nation - News from June 6, 1988

Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III withdrew himself from the Wedtech investigation only after U.S. Atty. Rudolph W. Giuliani refused in March, 1987, to share evidence in the case with the Justice Department unless Meese disqualified himself, the New York Daily News reported. The now-defunct defense contractor is at the center of an influence-peddling scandal. Meese’s friend, E. Robert Wallach, and financial adviser, W. Franklyn Chinn, were indicted in December on charges they accepted bribes in exchange for using their influence with Meese. Meese signed a recusal statement on April 8, 1987. Justice Department spokesman Patrick S. Korten denied Meese disqualified himself only after Giuliani refused to hand over evidence.