Deaver Seeks to Avoid Second House Hearing

WASHINGTON — Former Deputy White House Chief of Staff Michael K. Deaver, citing possible conflicts with an ongoing criminal investigation by a special prosecutor, wants a House subcommittee to drop plans to question him again on his lobbying activities, a House aide said Wednesday.

But the aide said that Deaver, who testified before the Energy and Commerce oversight subcommittee for eight hours on May 16, probably would agree to appear again if panel Chairman John D. Dingell (D-Mich.) insisted.

“Is Deaver stonewalling? Absolutely not,” said Michael F. Barrett, chief counsel of the subcommittee.

Barrett said Deaver’s lawyer, Herbert J. Miller, told him that “he wanted to talk Dingell out of” a promised second appearance because it would conflict with a criminal investigation being conducted by Whitney North Seymour Jr., who was named an independent counsel in the case on May 29.

“As a defense lawyer, you want to limit the number of times your client is out there testifying,” Barrett said.

But Miller “never said Deaver would not come back,” and “if Dingell said to Miller, ‘No, we want him back,’ Miller is going to send him in” without the requirement of a subpoena, Barrett added.

Dingell would hear Miller’s plea with an “open mind” but, for now, is “inclined to say no,” Barrett said.

Both a spokeswoman for Deaver and an associate of Miller refused to comment publicly.

The subcommittee, which is investigating Deaver’s lobbying for Canada and other clients, has covered only about half the ground it wanted to with him, Barrett said. The panel is considering whether to tighten federal laws that restrict lobbying activities by former federal officials.