Evangelist Calls Them Attempt to Disgrace Reagan : Hearings Violate Rights, Robertson Says

WASHINGTON â€”  Evangelist Pat Robertson on Friday denounced the Iran- contra committee hearings as unconstitutional, saying that they represent an attempt by Democrats in Congress to bring disgrace upon a popular Republican President.

“The machinery of the (Iran-contra) committee was oppressive, and it was lacking the customary judicial safeguards that attend a trial,� Robertson said in a speech to the National Press Club.

“Congress subjected the victims to a public humiliation. . . . They trampled on the rights of those brought before them. . . .

Attempt to Weaken Reagan

“By the way, ladies and gentlemen, it takes little sophistication to realize that the motive for the Iran-contra hearings was an attempt to weaken a popular Republican President.�

In discussing his own future, Robertson said he remains confident that he will be able to amass the support--3 million signatures by mid-September--that he said he wants before announcing his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President.

Robertson said he regards Lt. Col. Oliver L. North as an American hero but one who may have misstepped in carrying out Iran-contra policies while he was on the staff of President Reagan’s National Security Council.

“I do not agree in any way, shape or form with lying to Congress. I do not agree with falsifying documents. I do not agree with some of the techniques. . . . I would not have personally sold a cap pistol to the Ayatollah Khomeini,� he said.

He said Congress has spent far too much time on Iran-contra issues at the expense of more important matters.

‘We All Make Mistakes’

“Folks, in all seriousness, some people made some mistakes, and they blew the mission. So, we all make mistakes. You know. But we’ve got a $200-billion deficit and Congress isn’t able to pass a budget, and they can’t balance the budget, and we’ve got a $168-billion trade deficit,� he said.

Commenting on a more personal development, Robertson said he was greatly pleased by a federal judge’s ruling Friday that allows him to go ahead with a libel suit against a former California congressman who questioned his military record.

A U.S. District Court judge ruled that Robertson had produced enough evidence to go to trial with his claim that former Republican Rep. Paul N. (Pete) McCloskey Jr. slandered him when he said that Robertson invoked his father’s help in avoiding combat duty during the Korean War. The evangelist’s father is the late Sen. Willis Robertson of Virginia.

“This is precisely what I wanted,� Robertson said of the court ruling. “In my estimation, it’s a signal victory. And I look forward to giving the facts in court.�

But the judge also ruled that Robertson could not pursue a similar libel complaint against Rep. Andrew Jacobs Jr. (D-Ind.).

Called Him ‘Booze Officer’

The case arose from statements McCloskey made in a letter last year to Jacobs in which he also said that Robertson served as his Marine company’s “booze officer,� transporting liquor from Japan to his troops. Robertson said Jacobs made the letters available to reporters.

“I think a jury ought to decide whether he is telling the truth,� McCloskey told the Associated Press.

Robertson has maintained that even though he did not engage in battle while serving in Korea, he was placed in a combat situation.

“I was about 2.7 miles away from the front. It was considered a combat situation. . . . I have three battle stars on my record, and two major generals said that anyone who served in that place was in combat,� he said.